FUNCTIONAL CONNECTIVITY, SYMPTOM SEVERITY AND TREATMENT OUTCOMES IN WOMEN WITH BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER

Abstract

Dissociation is characterized by either heightened sensitivity to emotions (under-modulation) or dampened experience of emotions (over-modulation) (Krause-Utz & Elzinga, 2018; Lanius et al., 2010). Within fMRI studies, over- and under-modulation have been associated with differing functional connectivity when patients are exposed to memories of traumatic events (Krause-Utz et al., 2018; Ludӓscher et al., 2010; Winter et al., 2016). This study included female patients with Borderline Personality Disorder taking part in a 6-week treatment program to examine the interactions between changes in symptoms (n=13) and connectivity (n=12) pre- and post-treatment. Results suggest all symptom measures had significant changes from pre- to post-treatment. Changes in symptoms did not relate to changes of functional connectivity from pre- to post-treatment, but differing neurobiology was observed between under- and over-modulation. Furthermore, the amygdala appears to be co-activated with the nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, postcentral gyrus, dorsolateral middle temporal gyrus and precentral gyrus during mood induction tasks.