The Effect of Interpersonal and Social Cycle Therapy on Impulsivity, Distress Tolerance, and Emotional Regulation Difficulties in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder: a Case-Control Study: Assessment of Two Patients

Introduction: Patients with borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder have difficulty managing emotions that lead to distress and impulsivity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of interpersonal and social cycle therapy on impulsivity, distress tolerance and emotional regulation difficulties in patients with borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder. Methods: The present study is a single case trial of a single trial multiple baseline type of treatment process performed on two subjects with borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder. Two participants before the intervention, during the intervention and after the intervention using the “Barratt Impulsiveness Scale”, the “Distress Tolerance Scale” and the “Difficulties of Emotion Regulation Scale” were evaluated. In the present study, construct validity, Cronbach's alpha and test-re-test were measured. Data were analyzed by SPSS. 28. Results: The effect of interpersonal and social cycle therapy on impulsive behaviors, distress tolerance and emotional adjustment difficulties in the patients studied in this study was effective. 57% improved in impulsivity, 57% in distress tolerance, and 0.52 in emotional regulation difficulties. Conclusions: Interpersonal and social cycle therapy was effective on impulsivity, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation difficulties in patients with borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder. It is recommended to use this treatment to reduce the negative symptoms in patients with borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder.