A voxel-based morphometric MRI study in men with borderline personality disorder: preliminary findings.
OBJECTIVE
There is increasing evidence for subtle changes in brain morphology and function in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Structural brain imaging studies show lower volume in frontal, temporal and parietal brain regions than in healthy controls. The aim of our preliminary study of men with BPD was to investigate structural brain changes and their relationship with a measure of impulsivity.


METHODS
We examined seven male patients with BPD and six control men using voxel-based morphometry. Analysis of covariance was carried out to assess regionally specific differences in grey and white matter (WM) volumes. Correlations between trait impulsivity as measured using the Impulsiveness-Venturesomeness-Empathy scale and brain volumes were studied.


RESULTS
Compared with healthy men, men with BPD had similar WM volumes but smaller grey matter (GM) volumes in frontal, temporal and parietal cortices. The latter were negatively correlated with trait impulsivity.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings fit with previous reports of smaller regional GM volumes reported in women with BPD, and suggest that in men there may be an association between smaller GM volumes and impulsivity.
Völlm
Birgit A
BA
Section of Forensic Mental Health, Division of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, UK. birgit.vollm@nottingham.ac.uk
Zhao
Ling
L
Richardson
Paul
P
Clark
Lynn
L
Deakin
John F W
JF
Williams
Steve
S
Dolan
Mairead C
MC
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology