Abstract
BackgroundFunctional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) provides a direct and quantitative assessment of cortical haemodynamic function during a cognitive task. This functional neuroimaging modality may be used to elucidate the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, and identify neurophysiological differences between co-occurring psychiatric disorders. However, fNIRS research on borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been limited. Hence, this study aimed to compare cerebral haemodynamic function in healthy controls (HC), patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and patients with BPD.MethodsfNIRS signals during a verbal fluency task designed for clinical assessment was recorded for all participants. Demographics, clinical history and symptom severity were also noted.FindingsCompared to HCs (n = 31), both patient groups (MDD, n = 31; BPD, n = 31) displayed diminished haemodynamic response in the frontal, temporal and parietal cortices. Moreover, haemodynamic response in the right frontal cortex is markedly lower in patients with MDD compared to patients with BPD.InterpretationNormal cortical function in patients with BPD is disrupted, but not as extensively as in patients with MDD. These results provide further neurophysiological evidence for the distinction of patients with MDD from patients with BPD.
Highlights
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious psychiatric disorder characterised by a pervasive pattern of unstable emotional regulation, interpersonal relationships, self-image and impulse control [1]
The present Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) study suggests that haemodynamic dysfunction during the verbal fluency task (VFT) occurs in the frontal, temporal and parietal cortices of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD)
While diminished activation compared to healthy controls (HC) has been reported for common psychiatric disorders by several authors [30À32], this is the first time an fNIRS protocol, designed for clinical settings [29], has been applied to patients with BPD
Summary
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious psychiatric disorder characterised by a pervasive pattern of unstable emotional regulation, interpersonal relationships, self-image and impulse control [1]. Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) provides a direct and quantitative assessment of cortical haemodynamic function during a cognitive task. This functional neuroimaging modality may be used to elucidate the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, and identify neurophysiological differences between co-occurring psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to compare cerebral haemodynamic function in healthy controls (HC), patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and patients with BPD. Findings: Compared to HCs (n = 31), both patient groups (MDD, n = 31; BPD, n = 31) displayed diminished haemodynamic response in the frontal, temporal and parietal cortices. Interpretation: Normal cortical function in patients with BPD is disrupted, but not as extensively as in patients with MDD.
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