Study: patients with BPD are physically unable to regulate emotion

February 11, 2012

Here's the link to an article about a research paper studying the neurological

/organic /biological underpinnings of borderline pd:

http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/09/04/brain-scans-clarify-borderline-personali\

ty-disorder/8184.html

Excerpt:

" ...Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers viewed how

the brains of people with BPD reacted to social and emotional stimuli.

Koenigsberg found that when people with BPD attempted to control and reduce

their reactions to disturbing emotional scenes, the anterior cingulate cortex

and intraparetical sulci areas of the brain that are active in healthy people

under the same conditions remained inactive in the BPD patients.

" This research shows that BPD patients are not able to use those parts of the

brain that healthy people use to help regulate their emotions, " said Dr.

Koenigsberg.

" This may explain why their emotional reactions are so extreme. The biological

underpinnings of the disordered emotional control systems are central to

borderline pathology. Studying which areas of the brain function differently in

patients with borderline personality disorder can lead to more targeted uses of

psychotherapy and medications, and also provide a link to connect the genetic

basis of the disorder.... "

***

To me, this is hopeful news; ongoing neurobiological research will hopefully

result in finding more effective treatments for bpd, or even a cure or

prevention. Go, science!

Plus, if bpd can be shown to have signature physical, organic abnormalities in

the brain, then perhaps it can be reclassified as an Axis I disorder and

eligible for insurance coverage for treatment NOW.

-Annie

February 11, 2012

That's good news that they're figuring out exactly what makes a BP person

tick. (and definitely explains my fada's weird unregulated emotions).

The next trick is convincing bpd people that they need medicine, and need

to keep on taking medicine.

On Sat, Feb 11, 2012 at 11:40 AM, anuria67854 wrote:

> **

>

> Here's the link to an article about a research paper studying the

> neurological /organic /biological underpinnings of borderline pd:

>

http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/09/04/brain-scans-clarify-borderline-personali\

ty-disorder/8184.html

>

> Excerpt:

>

> " ...Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers viewed

> how the brains of people with BPD reacted to social and emotional stimuli.

>

> Koenigsberg found that when people with BPD attempted to control and

> reduce their reactions to disturbing emotional scenes, the anterior

> cingulate cortex and intraparetical sulci areas of the brain that are

> active in healthy people under the same conditions remained inactive in the

> BPD patients.

>

> " This research shows that BPD patients are not able to use those parts of

> the brain that healthy people use to help regulate their emotions, " said

> Dr. Koenigsberg.

>

> " This may explain why their emotional reactions are so extreme. The

> biological underpinnings of the disordered emotional control systems are

> central to borderline pathology. Studying which areas of the brain function

> differently in patients with borderline personality disorder can lead to

> more targeted uses of psychotherapy and medications, and also provide a

> link to connect the genetic basis of the disorder.... "

> ***

>

> To me, this is hopeful news; ongoing neurobiological research will

> hopefully result in finding more effective treatments for bpd, or even a

> cure or prevention. Go, science!

>

> Plus, if bpd can be shown to have signature physical, organic

> abnormalities in the brain, then perhaps it can be reclassified as an Axis

> I disorder and eligible for insurance coverage for treatment NOW.

>

> -Annie

>

February 11, 2012

This makes sense to me. Unfortunately, I don't think eligability

for insurance coverage for treatment is likely to do all that

much good. Lack of insurance coverage isn't the main reason most

of them don't get treatment. More knowledge about the how and

why of it can't hurt though and maybe having some treatment

options would let family members push some people into trying

treatment. Better understanding of what is going on might help

show why it is important to remove children from the care of

people with BPD too.

At 12:40 PM 02/11/2012 anuria67854 wrote:

>Here's the link to an article about a research paper studying

>the neurological /organic /biological underpinnings of

>borderline pd:

>

>http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/09/04/brain-scans-clarify-borderline-personal\

ity-disorder/8184.html

>

>Excerpt:

>

> " ...Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI),

>researchers viewed how the brains of people with BPD reacted to

>social and emotional stimuli.

>

>Koenigsberg found that when people with BPD attempted to

>control and reduce their reactions to disturbing emotional

>scenes, the anterior cingulate cortex and intraparetical sulci

>areas of the brain that are active in healthy people under the

>same conditions remained inactive in the BPD patients.

>

> " This research shows that BPD patients are not able to use

>those parts of the brain that healthy people use to help

>regulate their emotions, " said Dr. Koenigsberg.

>

> " This may explain why their emotional reactions are so extreme.

>The biological underpinnings of the disordered emotional

>control systems are central to borderline pathology. Studying

>which areas of the brain function differently in patients with

>borderline personality disorder can lead to more targeted uses

>of psychotherapy and medications, and also provide a link to

>connect the genetic basis of the disorder.... "

>***

>

>To me, this is hopeful news; ongoing neurobiological research

>will hopefully result in finding more effective treatments for

>bpd, or even a cure or prevention. Go, science!

>

>Plus, if bpd can be shown to have signature physical, organic

>abnormalities in the brain, then perhaps it can be reclassified

>as an Axis I disorder and eligible for insurance coverage for

>treatment NOW.

>

>-Annie

--

Katrina

February 11, 2012

I agree totally; I think that emotional dysregulation, high impulsivity, high

suicide susceptibility, cognitive distortions, chronic irritability or

inappropriate, extreme rage, etc., etc: all the possible permutations of the

traits of bpd that occur *in a moderate to severe degree* in a parent should be

a BIG RED FLAG that the child of such an individual is highly likely to

experience abuse, neglect or exploitation.

I too think that showing that bpd has identifiable neurobiological markers will

make it clearer that such parent-child situations need to be heavily monitored

and supervised, and that removing the child for the child's own physical safety

and emotional well-being may be necessary.

It ought to be as clear as the danger a child is in from a pedophile parent, in

my opinion.

-Annie

> >Here's the link to an article about a research paper studying

> >the neurological /organic /biological underpinnings of

> >borderline pd:

> >

>

>http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/09/04/brain-scans-clarify-borderline-personal\

ity-disorder/8184.html

> >

> >Excerpt:

> >

> > " ...Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI),

> >researchers viewed how the brains of people with BPD reacted to

> >social and emotional stimuli.

> >

> >Koenigsberg found that when people with BPD attempted to

> >control and reduce their reactions to disturbing emotional

> >scenes, the anterior cingulate cortex and intraparetical sulci

> >areas of the brain that are active in healthy people under the

> >same conditions remained inactive in the BPD patients.

> >

> > " This research shows that BPD patients are not able to use

> >those parts of the brain that healthy people use to help

> >regulate their emotions, " said Dr. Koenigsberg.

> >

> > " This may explain why their emotional reactions are so extreme.

> >The biological underpinnings of the disordered emotional

> >control systems are central to borderline pathology. Studying

> >which areas of the brain function differently in patients with

> >borderline personality disorder can lead to more targeted uses

> >of psychotherapy and medications, and also provide a link to

> >connect the genetic basis of the disorder.... "

> >***

> >

> >To me, this is hopeful news; ongoing neurobiological research

> >will hopefully result in finding more effective treatments for

> >bpd, or even a cure or prevention. Go, science!

> >

> >Plus, if bpd can be shown to have signature physical, organic

> >abnormalities in the brain, then perhaps it can be reclassified

> >as an Axis I disorder and eligible for insurance coverage for

> >treatment NOW.

> >

> >-Annie

>

> --

> Katrina

>

February 11, 2012

Interesting stuff. It sure matches what I've seen in my nada - she truly can't

reign in her emotions at all. When she gets angry over even the smallest thing

it's like a bell that keeps on ringing and won't stop for weeks, for years.

It's like someone else has to come along and hold the bell till to make it stop.

I learned how to do that for her as a kid - as long as the anger wasn't directed

at me. She needs a calm " muffling " presence to stop the emotional cascade.

It still amazes me to have adult understanding now of all this that I made it

through childhood at all, that any of us did! So I say go science too! I

truly hope they come up with a direct physical treatment that works on these

inactive brain areas because I have a feeling all the talk therapy in the world

won't help even with the brain's plasticity.

Eliza

>

> Here's the link to an article about a research paper studying the neurological

/organic /biological underpinnings of borderline pd:

>

http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/09/04/brain-scans-clarify-borderline-personali\

ty-disorder/8184.html

>

> Excerpt:

>

> " ...Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers viewed how

the brains of people with BPD reacted to social and emotional stimuli.

>

> Koenigsberg found that when people with BPD attempted to control and reduce

their reactions to disturbing emotional scenes, the anterior cingulate cortex

and intraparetical sulci areas of the brain that are active in healthy people

under the same conditions remained inactive in the BPD patients.

>

> " This research shows that BPD patients are not able to use those parts of the

brain that healthy people use to help regulate their emotions, " said Dr.

Koenigsberg.

>

> " This may explain why their emotional reactions are so extreme. The biological

underpinnings of the disordered emotional control systems are central to

borderline pathology. Studying which areas of the brain function differently in

patients with borderline personality disorder can lead to more targeted uses of

psychotherapy and medications, and also provide a link to connect the genetic

basis of the disorder.... "

> ***

>

> To me, this is hopeful news; ongoing neurobiological research will hopefully

result in finding more effective treatments for bpd, or even a cure or

prevention. Go, science!

>

> Plus, if bpd can be shown to have signature physical, organic abnormalities in

the brain, then perhaps it can be reclassified as an Axis I disorder and

eligible for insurance coverage for treatment NOW.

>

> -Annie

>

February 11, 2012

That's awesome, Annie. TY for sharing it.

I couldn't agree more with you about it being reclassified as Axis I.

I think it's extremely unfortunate that insurance companies often

write off BP patients as not treatable and just leave it at that.

Ugh, it's sickening and seems to me like BP patients need to be

advocated for.

Anyway, just a pet peeve of mine.

Thanks again for the study!

Mia

>

> Here's the link to an article about a research paper studying the neurological

/organic /biological underpinnings of borderline pd:

>

http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/09/04/brain-scans-clarify-borderline-personali\

ty-disorder/8184.html

>

> Excerpt:

>

> " ...Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers viewed how

the brains of people with BPD reacted to social and emotional stimuli.

>

> Koenigsberg found that when people with BPD attempted to control and reduce

their reactions to disturbing emotional scenes, the anterior cingulate cortex

and intraparetical sulci areas of the brain that are active in healthy people

under the same conditions remained inactive in the BPD patients.

>

> " This research shows that BPD patients are not able to use those parts of the

brain that healthy people use to help regulate their emotions, " said Dr.

Koenigsberg.

>

> " This may explain why their emotional reactions are so extreme. The biological

underpinnings of the disordered emotional control systems are central to

borderline pathology. Studying which areas of the brain function differently in

patients with borderline personality disorder can lead to more targeted uses of

psychotherapy and medications, and also provide a link to connect the genetic

basis of the disorder.... "

> ***

>

> To me, this is hopeful news; ongoing neurobiological research will hopefully

result in finding more effective treatments for bpd, or even a cure or

prevention. Go, science!

>

> Plus, if bpd can be shown to have signature physical, organic abnormalities in

the brain, then perhaps it can be reclassified as an Axis I disorder and

eligible for insurance coverage for treatment NOW.

>

> -Annie

>

February 11, 2012

Wow! That's really interesting and important information!

It helps explain why my own mirror neurons for social and emotional stimuli were

not very responsive. I've felt for years that I had to learn so many things as

an adult that I should have learned as a kid: I'm a KO of both npd/bpd, and was

kept very isolated until I went to school at 6.5. I had no modeling for

appropriate, regulated social and/or emotional interactions.

Opening up all of those neural pathways was a large part of what I accomplished

with the LENS neurotherapy- that I just can't say enough good things about!

>

> Here's the link to an article about a research paper studying the neurological

/organic /biological underpinnings of borderline pd:

>

http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/09/04/brain-scans-clarify-borderline-personali\

ty-disorder/8184.html

>

> Excerpt:

>

> " ...Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers viewed how

the brains of people with BPD reacted to social and emotional stimuli.

>

> Koenigsberg found that when people with BPD attempted to control and reduce

their reactions to disturbing emotional scenes, the anterior cingulate cortex

and intraparetical sulci areas of the brain that are active in healthy people

under the same conditions remained inactive in the BPD patients.

>

> " This research shows that BPD patients are not able to use those parts of the

brain that healthy people use to help regulate their emotions, " said Dr.

Koenigsberg.

>

> " This may explain why their emotional reactions are so extreme. The biological

underpinnings of the disordered emotional control systems are central to

borderline pathology. Studying which areas of the brain function differently in

patients with borderline personality disorder can lead to more targeted uses of

psychotherapy and medications, and also provide a link to connect the genetic

basis of the disorder.... "

> ***

>

> To me, this is hopeful news; ongoing neurobiological research will hopefully

result in finding more effective treatments for bpd, or even a cure or

prevention. Go, science!

>

> Plus, if bpd can be shown to have signature physical, organic abnormalities in

the brain, then perhaps it can be reclassified as an Axis I disorder and

eligible for insurance coverage for treatment NOW.

>

> -Annie

>

February 12, 2012

Annie,

Good information as always.

My late husbands aunt had a mother that was quite possibly BPD. She was bad

enough that she was under psychiatric care, and this was probably almost seventy

years ago. This woman's psychiatrist advised the aunt that the best thing she

could do " is put a WHOLE LOT of geography between them " and that this woman was

never going to change. She had been in his care long enough that he could see

that she not only wasn't making progress, but he felt that this behavior had

become solidified in her character. I found that statement to be pretty

interesting.

I have taken note that on the occasions that I have " put my foot down " and given

my own nada ultimatims to quit doing something or I will cut off contact with

her or some other undesirable outcome, she will comply for a bit. She does

return to the behavior, only she hides it from me. She also has in the past told

my brother that I owed HER an apology for MY behavior. Brother is NC with her

for three years now, so I don't know who she is telling these things to now, but

I am sure there is someone!

One of the the behaviors that led to my brother going NC with her, was

interferance in the relationship with my dad and his wife. I have posted about

that before, so forgive the repeated information...Dad's wife is an unmedicated

non-compliant Bi-polar. She was convinced a number of years ago, by my nada,

that she didn't have a problem, but that my dad and brother were trying to make

her think she was crazy. I had been expressing my constirnation at nada having

any kind of a relationship with my dad's second wife for a while. Reemed her

about it even and told her that " she could lie to herself and everyone else

about why she was friends with this woman, but I knew she was just using her as

a way to keep a hand into my dad's life and business and her kindness was a load

of sh!t and if she didn't butt out I was going to quit talking to her " (and this

was BEFORE nada inerferred in this woman's mental health care) The only thing

that brought about was nada being sneakier about contacting dad's wife. It was

not just nada, but this emotionally unstable woman too. We tried for years to

convince dad's wife that nada didn't have her interests in mind at all.

Unfortunately nada is very convincing on a weak mind.

I hope this information helps others, but to be honest, I think my nada's

character is set. All I really see now is trying to maintain good boundaries for

myself and my son. She is 65 years old and she may wish upon occasion to have a

better relationship with me and just to have a relationship with her son, but

when push comes to shove, she will retreat to her old mantra, that 'SHE doesn't

have a problem, but that OTHERS just aren't strong enough to deal with her or

that If only everyone else would just understand her better she wouldn't have

all these problems " Yeah, it's not her, it's EVERYONE ELSE. I don't even really

think she wants a better relationship, so much as she just wants everyone else

to bend to her will and wants.

C

>

> Here's the link to an article about a research paper studying the neurological

/organic /biological underpinnings of borderline pd:

>

http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/09/04/brain-scans-clarify-borderline-personali\

ty-disorder/8184.html

>

> Excerpt:

>

> " ...Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers viewed how

the brains of people with BPD reacted to social and emotional stimuli.

>

> Koenigsberg found that when people with BPD attempted to control and reduce

their reactions to disturbing emotional scenes, the anterior cingulate cortex

and intraparetical sulci areas of the brain that are active in healthy people

under the same conditions remained inactive in the BPD patients.

>

> " This research shows that BPD patients are not able to use those parts of the

brain that healthy people use to help regulate their emotions, " said Dr.

Koenigsberg.

>

> " This may explain why their emotional reactions are so extreme. The biological

underpinnings of the disordered emotional control systems are central to

borderline pathology. Studying which areas of the brain function differently in

patients with borderline personality disorder can lead to more targeted uses of

psychotherapy and medications, and also provide a link to connect the genetic

basis of the disorder.... "

> ***

>

> To me, this is hopeful news; ongoing neurobiological research will hopefully

result in finding more effective treatments for bpd, or even a cure or

prevention. Go, science!

>

> Plus, if bpd can be shown to have signature physical, organic abnormalities in

the brain, then perhaps it can be reclassified as an Axis I disorder and

eligible for insurance coverage for treatment NOW.

>

> -Annie

>

February 12, 2012

The sneaky behaviors you're describing: your nada being carefully calculating

and passive-aggressive with her hostility (befriending her ex's new wife as a

mask to cover her true agenda of being controlling and disruptive) which is

more like narcissistic pd and even psychopathy, rather than borderline.

Borderline emotional dysregulation (the kind I think they were studying in this

particular research project) is more about triggering suddenly into histrionic

weeping or a temper tantrum, about rapid mood swings (normal to explosively

angry in a nanosecond, then back to normal again suddenly for no apparent

reason) and being EXTREMELY over-the-top with expressing the emotion. Something

pleasant isn't simply " good " or " nice " , its " THE BEST EVER! PERFECT! " The bpd

isn't simply " sad " or " disappointed " , its " THE WORST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO

ME, I WILL NEVER GET OVER THIS CRUSHING BLOW! "

Drama, drama, drama. (Ick.)

But hey, if its hostile, vindictive, controlling and intransigent behavior that

is completely self-serving, then its a personality disorder of some ilk, I

agree. And its " set " , more than likely to be unresponsive to therapy, sadly.

-Annie

>

> Annie,

>

> Good information as always.

>

> My late husbands aunt had a mother that was quite possibly BPD. She was bad

enough that she was under psychiatric care, and this was probably almost seventy

years ago. This woman's psychiatrist advised the aunt that the best thing she

could do " is put a WHOLE LOT of geography between them " and that this woman was

never going to change. She had been in his care long enough that he could see

that she not only wasn't making progress, but he felt that this behavior had

become solidified in her character. I found that statement to be pretty

interesting.

>

> I have taken note that on the occasions that I have " put my foot down " and

given my own nada ultimatims to quit doing something or I will cut off contact

with her or some other undesirable outcome, she will comply for a bit. She does

return to the behavior, only she hides it from me. She also has in the past told

my brother that I owed HER an apology for MY behavior. Brother is NC with her

for three years now, so I don't know who she is telling these things to now, but

I am sure there is someone!

>

> One of the the behaviors that led to my brother going NC with her, was