A Voxel-Based Morphometric MRI Study in Young Adults with Borderline Personality Disorder.

Xinhu Jin,Changlian Tan,Jinyao Yi,Xiongzhao Zhu,Jun Gan,Shuqiao Yao,Mingtian Zhong,Xiyu Cao,Christian Schmahl

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0147938

Abstract

BackgroundIncreasing evidence has documented subtle changes in brain morphology and function in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, results of magnetic resonance imaging volumetry in patients with BPD are inconsistent. In addition, few researchers using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) have focused on attachment and childhood trauma in BPD. This preliminary study was performed to investigate structural brain changes and their relationships to attachment and childhood trauma in a homogenous sample of young adults with BPD.MethodWe examined 34 young adults with BPD and 34 healthy controls (HCs) to assess regionally specific differences in gray matter volume (GMV) and gray matter concentration (GMC). Multiple regressions between brain volumes measured by VBM and attachment style questionnaire (ASQ) and childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) scores were performed.ResultsCompared with HCs, subjects with BPD showed significant bilateral increases in GMV in the middle cingulate cortex (MCC)/posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus. GMC did not differ significantly between groups. In multiple regression models, ASQ insecure attachment scores were correlated negatively with GMV in the precuneus/MCC and middle occipital gyrus in HCs, HCs with more severe insecure attachment showed smaller volumes in precuneus/MCC and middle occipital gyrus, whereas no negative correlations between insecure attachment and GMV in any region were found in BPD group. In addition, CTQ total scores were not correlated with GMV in any region in the two groups respectively.ConclusionsOur findings fit with those of previous reports of larger precuneus GMV in patients with BPD, and suggest that GMV in the precuneus/MCC and middle occipital gyrus is associated inversely with insecure attachment style in HCs. Our finding of increased GMV in the MCC and PCC in patients with BPD compared with HCs has not been reported in previous VBM studies.

Highlights

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a highly prevalent axis II psychiatric disorder in general and clinical populations [1], typified by features such as pervasive instability in the regulation of emotion, self-image, interpersonal relationships and impulse control [2]
Our finding of increased gray matter volume (GMV) in the middle cingulate cortex (MCC) and PCC in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) compared with healthy controls (HCs) has not been reported in previous voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies
attachment style questionnaire (ASQ) insecure attachment scores and childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) total scores were significantly higher in the BPD group than in the HC group

Summary

Introduction

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a highly prevalent axis II psychiatric disorder in general and clinical populations [1], typified by features such as pervasive instability in the regulation of emotion, self-image, interpersonal relationships and impulse control [2]. Increasing evidence has documented subtle changes in brain morphology and function in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Few researchers using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) have focused on attachment and childhood trauma in BPD.

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