Citation

Stoffels M, Nijs M, Spinhoven P, Mesbah R, Hagenaars MA. J. Behav. Ther. Exp. Psychiatry 2017; 57: 6-13.

Affiliation

Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.a.hagenaars@uu.nl.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jbtep.2017.02.001

PMID

28235636

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Exaggerated emotional reactivity is supposed to be essential in the etiology of borderline personality disorder (BPD). More specifically, models of defensive behavior would predict reduced freezing behavior -indicated by fear bradycardia-in response to threat. This study examined automatic fear bradycardia responses in BPD versus healthy controls and the role of emotion dysregulation, more specifically tendencies to avoid emotions.

METHODS: Patients with BPD (n = 23) and healthy controls (n = 18) completed questionnaires and then watched neutral, pleasant and unpleasant pictures while heart rate was assessed.

RESULTS: Emotion avoidance interacted with group: it was associated with distinct autonomic responses in healthy controls but not in BPD patients. Controls with lower emotion avoidance tendencies showed bradycardia in response to unpleasant pictures, while controls with higher emotion avoidance tendencies did not. BPD patients showed no bradycardia, irrespective of their emotion avoidance tendencies. LIMITATIONS: This study is limited by a small sample size. Comorbidity or medication intake were not controlled for.

CONCLUSIONS: The results may suggest impaired automatic defense responses in BPD. Further understanding of the regulation of distress and defense responses might improve BPD treatment.

Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

Avoidance; Borderline personality disorder; Bradycardia; Emotion regulation; Freezing; Stress