Neurobiological correlates of diagnosis and underlying traits in patients with borderline personality disorder compared with normal controls.
The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that borderline personality disorder (BPD) and its underlying traits are associated with abnormalities in neurotransmitter systems. Subjects were 30 women with BPD and 22 normal controls, assessed using the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines, revised, the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-A) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), the Diagnostic Assessment of Personality Pathology, the Buss-Durkee Guilt-Hostility Inventory, the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS), and challenge tests to measure serotonergic, cholinergic and noradrenergic activity. Borderline subjects with high HAM-A and HAM-D scores showed a faster time to peak in prolactin response to meta-chlorphenylpiperazine (m-CPP) challenge. Borderline subjects with high BIS scores showed prolactin blunting. There were no differences in cortisol response to m-CPP, or on the cholinergic and noradrenergic challenges. The results suggest that impulsive traits in borderline patients are associated with abnormalities in serotonergic systems.
Paris
Joel
J
Institute of Community and Family Psychiatry, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, 4333 Chemin de la Côte Ste. Catherine, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3T 1E4. joel.paris@mcgill.ca
Zweig-Frank
Hallie
H
Kin
N M K Ng Ying
NM
Schwartz
George
G
Steiger
Howard
H
Nair
N P V
NP
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000502:physiology; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D003000:Clonidine; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010879:Piperazines; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011594:Psychometrics; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D012701:Serotonin; D011388:Prolactin; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide; D003000:Clonidine; D000109:Acetylcholine; C015068:1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine; D009638:Norepinephrine