title: Borderline personality features moderate the effect of a fear induction on impulsivity.
abstract: This study examined the effects of laboratory-induced fear on impulsivity among participants who were high (n = 28) or low (n = 44) in borderline personality (BP) features. Participants were randomly assigned to complete a laboratory measure of impulsivity (passive avoidance learning task) following either a neutral mood induction or a fear induction. BP features moderated the association of the emotion condition (fear vs. neutral) with impulsivity: High-BP participants, but not low-BP participants, committed a greater number of impulsive responses in the fear condition compared with the neutral condition. Findings indicated that impulsivity among persons with BP features may not be a trait-like deficit, but rather, depends on emotional context. These findings suggest that future research should examine impulsivity under differing emotional conditions, and that clinical interventions to reduce impulsivity among persons with BP features should focus on responses to emotional contexts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6. alchapma@sfu.ca
authors.forename: Alexander L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Dixon-Gordon
authors.forename: Brianne K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Layden
authors.forename: Kristy N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Walters
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult