The psychopharmacology of borderline personality disorders.
DSM-III borderline personality disorder defines a group of patients who are characterised by impulsivity and unpredictable behaviour, inappropriate aggression, intense and unstable relationships and are often associated with repeated suicidal behaviour. A substantial body of research has established an association between disturbance of serotonin and also dopamine and suicidal behaviour in depression. A similar relationship is also seen in studies of personality disorders which suggests the association is not specific to depression. A placebo controlled study of low dose flupenthixol has been shown to significantly reduce subsequent suicidal behaviour in patients with personality disorders without depression or schizophrenia. Evidence points to a biological basis for suicidal behaviour and borderline personality disorder and possibly of pharmacotherapy.
Montgomery
S A
SA
St Mary's Hospital Medical School, Academic Department of Psychiatry, London, Great-Britain.
D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005475:Flupenthixol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008803:Mianserin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013892:Thioxanthenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013892:Thioxanthenes; D008803:Mianserin; D012701:Serotonin; C007761:flupenthixol decanoate; D005475:Flupenthixol