[moodycow]

Scans show what makes a brain ‘borderline’

University of Toronto rightOriginal Study
Posted by Don Campbell-Toronto on January 18, 2013
U. TORONTO (CAN) — Brain regions that process anger and sadness are overactive in people with borderline personality disorder, a new study reveals.
The research also finds that the areas of the brain that would normally help dampen negative emotion are underactive.
The work offers the best description yet of the neural circuits that underlie the severe mental illness and could lead to better treatments and diagnosis.
A number of brain imaging studies have found differences in the function of brains of people with BPD, but some of the studies have been contradictory.
For the study, published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, a team led by Anthony C. Ruocco, assistant professor in the department of psychology and program in neuroscience at the University of Toronto, analyzed data from 11 previously published studies and confirmed a number of important differences between people with BPD and those without.
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On the one hand, a brain area called the insula—which helps determine how intensely we experience negative emotions—is hyperactive in people with BPD. On the other hand, regions in the frontal part of the brain—which are thought to help us control our emotional reactions—are underactive.
“It’s not just that they have too much drive from their emotions,” Ruocco says. “They seem to have less of the ‘brakes’ to try to curb those emotions and to help regulate their intensity.”
The findings fit well with symptoms seen in people with BPD, Ruocco says. “The hallmark symptom that people describe is emotion dysregulation—you’re happy one moment, and the next moment you’re feeling angry or sad or depressed. People with BPD can cycle through emotions, usually negative ones, quite rapidly.”
More important is how the findings might be useful in diagnosis and treatment. One challenge is that BPD often occurs with other disorders, such as major depression, which can make it harder to identify and treat.
The new results raise the possibility that brain imaging could be used to make a more definitive diagnosis of BPD, Ruocco says.
In the future it might also help determine what treatments are most likely to be effective for an individual patient, based on what the imaging studies show about their brain function before they even begin treatment.
Source: University of Toronto
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DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.07.014 rightOriginal Study
Related Topics: brains, emotions, mental health, relationships NEXT UP

New theory upends view of how brain is wired Columbia University

3 Comments

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1. Joyce May 2, 2013
   Maybe this can help get rid of the stigma and help others understand that we really aren’t just “overreacting” or “not trying hard enough”
   
   
2. Kim August 28, 2013
   I agree. There is an interview with Dr. Heller from Okeechobee, FL at healthyplace.com that also says that it is neurological, that our glial cells in our brain are damaged. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words cause brain damage.”
   
   
3. Mandi May 25, 2014
   I just read this short yet simple article and really liked it. I posted it on my Facebook page that I use for BPD. I hope this information becomes more and more known to others for the same reasons that Joyce had mentioned. It’s not our fault.
   Kim, thank you for that other information. I checked out Dr. Heller’s information on that website and just read through her findings on medications. Thank you so much for sharing. All of this information has been very helpful.
   Thank you, Don, for posting this article.
   
   

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[kaliope]

thanks for sharing

[cryingontheinside]

Thanks for sharing this. Maybe more awareness could come to light, less stigma and more help

[Pierro]

Many thanks Moodycow, It is not often we hear a positive, thanks again!!

Best wishes

[jean17]

Originally Posted by moodycow

Scans show what makes a brain ‘borderline’

University of Toronto rightOriginal Study
Posted by Don Campbell-Toronto on January 18, 2013
U. TORONTO (CAN) — Brain regions that process anger and sadness are overactive in people with borderline personality disorder, a new study reveals.
The research also finds that the areas of the brain that would normally help dampen negative emotion are underactive.
The work offers the best description yet of the neural circuits that underlie the severe mental illness and could lead to better treatments and diagnosis.
A number of brain imaging studies have found differences in the function of brains of people with BPD, but some of the studies have been contradictory.
For the study, published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, a team led by Anthony C. Ruocco, assistant professor in the department of psychology and program in neuroscience at the University of Toronto, analyzed data from 11 previously published studies and confirmed a number of important differences between people with BPD and those without.
Related Articles On Futurity

• Washington University in St. Louis
  
  How the brain lets us plan to remember
  
  
• Indiana University
  
  100-year-old brains may help treat mentally ill
  
  
• Michigan State University
  
  US Asians rarely seek help after domestic abuse
  
  

On the one hand, a brain area called the insula—which helps determine how intensely we experience negative emotions—is hyperactive in people with BPD. On the other hand, regions in the frontal part of the brain—which are thought to help us control our emotional reactions—are underactive.
“It’s not just that they have too much drive from their emotions,” Ruocco says. “They seem to have less of the ‘brakes’ to try to curb those emotions and to help regulate their intensity.”
The findings fit well with symptoms seen in people with BPD, Ruocco says. “The hallmark symptom that people describe is emotion dysregulation—you’re happy one moment, and the next moment you’re feeling angry or sad or depressed. People with BPD can cycle through emotions, usually negative ones, quite rapidly.”
More important is how the findings might be useful in diagnosis and treatment. One challenge is that BPD often occurs with other disorders, such as major depression, which can make it harder to identify and treat.
The new results raise the possibility that brain imaging could be used to make a more definitive diagnosis of BPD, Ruocco says.
In the future it might also help determine what treatments are most likely to be effective for an individual patient, based on what the imaging studies show about their brain function before they even begin treatment.
Source: University of Toronto
chat3 Comments actionShare
You are free to share this article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported license.

DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.07.014 rightOriginal Study
Related Topics: brains, emotions, mental health, relationships NEXT UP

New theory upends view of how brain is wired Columbia University

3 Comments

pencilAdd A Comment

1. Joyce May 2, 2013
   Maybe this can help get rid of the stigma and help others understand that we really aren’t just “overreacting” or “not trying hard enough”
   
   
2. Kim August 28, 2013
   I agree. There is an interview with Dr. Heller from Okeechobee, FL at healthyplace.com that also says that it is neurological, that our glial cells in our brain are damaged. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words cause brain damage.”
   
   
3. Mandi May 25, 2014
   I just read this short yet simple article and really liked it. I posted it on my Facebook page that I use for BPD. I hope this information becomes more and more known to others for the same reasons that Joyce had mentioned. It’s not our fault.
   Kim, thank you for that other information. I checked out Dr. Heller’s information on that website and just read through her findings on medications. Thank you so much for sharing. All of this information has been very helpful.
   Thank you, Don, for posting this article.
   
   

Your Name*

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We respect your privacy.

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This is amazing! Thanks so much for bringing it to our attention. No "It's" not our fault.

[shezbut]

Thank you, moody cow. It is encouraging to see scientific back-up which explains our extreme ups and downs! Thank you for sharing the news

[allme]

Thanks, I needed to read that today!

[allme]

One thing though, how do we help ourselves knowing this?

[moodycow]

I wish i could answer that !

[jack123]

Good information. Now need treatment supported from findings.

[moodycow]

I am wondering whether to share this with my care team ?

Originally Posted by moodycow

I am wondering whether to share this with my care team ?

I think you should. Go for it.

[Lani29]

I think that once we have a scientific explanation for our struggles, there is some relief. We can stop blaming ourselves-that in itself is freeing and allows us to then learn techniques to best manage our emotions the best we can. I live each day the best I can, and try to recognize the little things I do that are actually remarkable given my brain dysfunction. This is what I know. Yes, I struggle an awful lot as bpd has caused me to crate a life that does not necessarily serve me well. I've made some unfortunate choices using a depressed, emotional and desperate mind. I realize this.

[Fuzzybear]