A study of individuals seeking treatment for borderline personality disorder found that the gap between their own perceived social preferences and their expectations about the social preferences of other people might foster a vicious cycle of misunderstanding and disappointment in social relationships. In turn, this vicious cycle may lead to heightened feelings of loneliness. The paper was published in Comprehensive Psychiatry. Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition marked by ongoing problems with emotional regulation, self-image, behavior, and relationships. People with it frequently experience very intense emotions that can shift quickly, sometimes over hours or days. Common features of this disorder include fear of abandonment, unstable or intense relationships, impulsive behavior, and a changing or uncertain sense of self. Some people also feel chronic emptiness, anger that is hard to control, or suspiciousness and stress-related changes in perception. The condition often begins by late adolescence or early adulthood. Borderline personality disorder can occur together with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use problems, eating disorders, or bipolar disorder, which can make diagnosis more complicated. …