Scientific article
English

Beyond diagnosis: Mentalization and mental health from a transdiagnostic point of view in adolescents from non-clinical population

Published inPsychiatry research, vol. 270, p. 755-763; 755-763
Publication date2018-12
First online date2018-10-21
Abstract

An increasing volume of evidence suggests that mentalization (MZ) can be an important factor in the transition from mental health to mental illness and vice versa. However, most studies are focused on the role of MZ in specific disorders. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between MZ and mental health as a trans-diagnostic process. A sample of 172 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years old (M = 14.6, SD = 1.7; 56.4% of girls) was assessed on measures of MZ, psychopathology and psychological functioning from a multimethod and multi-informant perspective. Contrary to predictions, MZ was not associated with general psychopathology and comorbidity, even when explored from a broad, trans-diagnostic perspective. However, we observed a robust association linking MZ to functioning and well-being across many dimensions, involving social, role and several psychological indicators of adjustment and mental health. These results suggest that MZ may contribute to mental health beyond symptoms, not so much associated with psychopathology, but rather resilience and well-being.

Keywords
  • Adjustment
  • Analytic function
  • Awareness
  • Comorbidity
  • Consciousness
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Impairment
  • Insight
  • Inter-personal intelligence
  • Intra-personal intelligence
  • Mental disorder
  • Mentalizing
  • Meta-cognition
  • Mindblindness
  • Psychopathology
  • Reflective function
  • Social cognition
  • Social intelligence
  • Theory of mind
  • Tom
  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child Welfare / psychology
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Mental Health
  • Mentalization
  • Psychopathology
  • Resilience, Psychological
  • Self Concept
  • Social Adjustment
Citation (ISO format)
BALLESPÍ, Sergi et al. Beyond diagnosis: Mentalization and mental health from a transdiagnostic point of view in adolescents from non-clinical population. In: Psychiatry research, 2018, vol. 270, p. 755–763. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.10.048
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ISSN of the journal0165-1781
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