Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
Home> Volumes> Volume CHR Vol.7> Article
Research Article

Neuroimaging on Brain Structural and Functional Abnormality of Borderline Personality Disorder

Yuet Yung, LauThe Education University of Hong Kong*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

This article is a comprehensive review of borderline personality disorder (BPD) based on the neuroimaging technique. The paper incorporated the etiology of BPD, the correlated brain structure and function abnormality of BPD found by neuroimaging techniques, influence of brain abnormality and recommendations for future research directions. The method used in the paper is to generalise results from pre-existing research and studies by reviewing the literature. The results and discussion section will focus on the comparison between BPD and non-BPD subjects, intending to highlight the most significant anatomical and functional abnormalities in the brain such as the hippocampus, the amygdala and the primary visual processing area. Furthermore, the impact of early trauma, and the connection between brain abnormalities and emotional dysregulation will be discussed in the paper. The suggestions and discussions section at the end will cover the current limitation of BPD neuroimaging research based on the selection bias on gender and provide directions for future research. The overall goal of the current study is to increase knowledge about BPD.

Keywords: borderline personality disorder; neuroimaging; early trauma; emotional dysregulation; gender
Published: October 31, 2023
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/7/20230885
Volume: CHR Vol.7
pp. 213-220
Download PDF

References

  1. Chapman, J., T Jamil, R., & Fleisher, C. (2022). Borderline Personality Disorder. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
  2. Lis, E., Greenfield, B., Henry, M., Guilé, J., & Dougherty, G. (2007). Neuroimaging and genetics of borderline personality disorder: a review. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 32(3), 162–173.
  3. Tischler, V., Bronjewski, E., O’Connor, K., & Calton, T. (2009). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning for research: the experiences of healthy volunteers and patients with remitted depressive illness. Mental Health Review Journal, 14(3), 23–30.
  4. Glover, G. H. (2011). Overview of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Neurosurgery Clinics of North America, 22(2), 133–139.
  5. Zetzsche, T., Preuss, U. W., Frodl, T., Schmitt, G., Seifert, D., Münchhausen, E., Tabrizi, S., Leinsinger, G., Born, C., Reiser, M. F., Möller, H., & Meisenzahl, E. M. (2007). Hippocampal volume reduction and history of aggressive behaviour in patients with borderline personality disorder. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 154(2), 157–170.
  6. Mirolli, M., Mannella, F., & Baldassarre, G. (2010). The roles of the amygdala in the affective regulation of body, brain, and behaviour. Connection Science, 22(3), 215–245.
  7. Ruocco, A. C., Amirthavasagam, S., & Zakzanis, K. K. (2012). Amygdala and hippocampal volume reductions as candidate endophenotypes for borderline personality disorder: A meta-analysis of magnetic resonance imaging studies. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 201(3), 245–252.
  8. Sapolsky, R. M. (2003). Stress and Plasticity in the Limbic System. Neurochemical Research, 28(11), 1735–1742.
  9. Driessen, M., Herrmann, J., Stahl, K., Zwaan, M., Meier, S., Hill, A., Osterheider, M., & Petersen, D. (2000). Magnetic Resonance Imaging Volumes of the Hippocampus and the Amygdala in Women With Borderline Personality Disorder and Early Traumatization. Archives of General Psychiatry, 57(12), 1115.
  10. Schmahl, C., Vermetten, E., Elzinga, B. M., & Bremner, J. D. (2003). Magnetic resonance imaging of hippocampal and amygdala volume in women with childhood abuse and borderline personality disorder. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 122(3), 193–198.
  11. Irle, E., Lange, C., & Sachsse, U. (2005). Reduced size and abnormal asymmetry of parietal cortex in women with borderline personality disorder. Biological Psychiatry, 57(2), 173–182.
  12. Koenigsberg, H. W., Siever, L. J., Lee, H., Pizzarello, S., New, A. S., Goodman, M., Cheng, H., Flory, J., & Prohovnik, I. (2009). Neural correlates of emotion processing in borderline personality disorder. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 172(3), 192–199.
  13. Mier, D., Lis, S., Esslinger, C., Sauer, C., Hagenhoff, M., Ulferts, J., Gallhofer, B., & Kirsch, P. (2012). Neuronal correlates of social cognition in borderline personality disorder. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 8(5), 531–537.
  14. Bozzatello, P., Rocca, P., Baldassarri, L., Bosia, M., & Bellino, S. (2021). The Role of Trauma in Early Onset Borderline Personality Disorder: A Biopsychosocial Perspective. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12.
  15. Abdul Kadir, N. B. (2017). Insecure Attachment. Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences, 1–8.
  16. Battle, C. L., Shea, M. T., Johnson, D. M., Yen, S., Zlotnick, C., Zanarini, M. C., Sanislow, C. A., Skodol, A. E., Gunderson, J. G., Grilo, C. M., McGlashan, T. H., & Morey, L. C. (2004). Childhood Maltreatment Associated With Adult Personality Disorders: Findings From the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study. Journal of Personality Disorders, 18(2), 193–211.
  17. Sengutta, M., Gawęda, U., Moritz, S., & Karow, A. (2018). The mediating role of borderline personality features in the relationship between childhood trauma and psychotic-like experiences in a sample of help-seeking non-psychotic adolescents and young adults. European Psychiatry, 56(1), 84–90.
  18. Turniansky, H., Ben-Dor, D., Krivoy, A., Weizman, A., & Shoval, G. (2019). A history of prolonged childhood sexual abuse is associated with more severe clinical presentation of borderline personality disorder in adolescent female inpatients – A naturalistic study. Child Abuse &Amp; Neglect, 98, 104222.
  19. Hollander, E., & Rosen, J. (2000). Impulsivity. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 14(2_suppl1), S39–S44.
  20. Soloff, P. H., Pruitt, P., Sharma, M., Radwan, J., White, R., & Diwadkar, V. A. (2012). Structural brain abnormalities and suicidal behavior in borderline personality disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 46(4), 516–525.
  21. Biskin, R. S., & Paris, J. (2012). Diagnosing borderline personality disorder. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 184(16), 1789–1794.
  22. Ding, J. B., & Hu, K. (2021). Structural MRI Brain Alterations in Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder. Cureus.
  23. Busch, A. J., Balsis, S., Morey, L. C., & Oltmanns, T. F. (2016). Gender Differences in Borderline Personality Disorder Features in an Epidemiological Sample of Adults Age 55–64: Self Versus Informant Report. Journal of Personality Disorders, 30(3), 419–432.