title: Intima-media thickness in women with borderline personality disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) may have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease caused by altered endocrine, metabolic, and inflammatory parameters. Increased intima-media thickness (IMT) is considered an early marker of atherosclerosis and is associated with most cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mean IMT of the common carotid arteries was assessed by B-mode ultrasound in 47 women with BPD and 28 age-matched healthy women. Mean (standard deviation) age for BPD participants was 31.2 (10.4) years and 31.9 (11.0) years for the comparison group. In addition, Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for metabolic syndrome and markers of inflammation were measured. The patients were characterized by applying DSM-IV criteria and obtaining self-reports of adverse childhood experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with BPD had a significantly higher IMT than healthy women (mean [standard deviation] = 0.41 [0.11] versus 0.34 [0.11] mm, p = .02). In linear regression analysis, IMT was significantly associated with BPD even when adjusting for body mass index (β = 0.27, p = .04) and physical activity (β = 0.29, p = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that women with BPD are at increased risk of developing subsequent cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany. wiebke.greggersen@psychiatrie.uk-sh.de
authors.forename: Wiebke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Greggersen
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rudolf
authors.forename: Peer-Willem
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fassbinder
authors.forename: Bastian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Willenborg
authors.forename: Kai G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Kahl
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bergmann-Koester
authors.forename: Beate M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Stoeckelhuber
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hohagen
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schweiger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult