Borderline personality disorder and polycystic ovary syndrome: A review of the literature

Salivary testosterone is associated with feelings of senselessness and self-dislike in women with borderline personality disorder

Background: Women with borderline personality disorder (BPD) show increased basal levels of testosterone. We investigated whether salivary testosterone levels in women with BPD were indicative of specific symptoms associated with BPD. Based on the assumed link between testosterone and interpersonal dominance, we hypothesized a positive association between testosterone and externalising, i.e. aggressive or impulsive behaviour, potentially contributing to higher burden of interpersonal reactivity and conflict.Methods: Saliva was collected from 98 women with BPD (average age in years: 28, range 18-46) between 1 and 2 pm. Self-rating scales were administered to assess severity of BPD (Borderline Symptom Checklist, BSL-23) and depressive symptoms (Beck's Depression Inventory, BDI-II). Regression analyses targeted associations between individual testosterone levels and BSL-23 and BDI-II total and by-item scores.Results: Higher testosterone levels were associated with higher overall disease burden indicated by BSL-23 and BDI-II total scores. When analysed by item, higher testosterone levels were significantly associated with increased feelings of self-dislike, senselessness and pessimism, and the feeling of being a failure.Conclusion: Our findings show that in women with BPD testosterone levels are positively associated with increased borderline and depressive symptomatology. Contrary to our expectations, rather than predicting externalising symptoms, higher testosterone is associated with a well-defined cluster of internalising symptoms characterized by a pessimistic and derogatory view towards oneself.

Gonadal hormones in borderline personality disorder: implications for understanding symptoms and supporting treatment

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature on the impact of gonadal hormones on features of borderline personality disorder.

BACKGROUND

Oestrogen flux and absolute sex hormone levels are known to be associated with various mood states in women. We investigated whether this was particularly relevant for borderline symptoms in women with or without borderline personality disorder (BPD).

METHODS

Systematic literature review.

DISCUSSION

There is some evidence that borderline symptoms are more severe during certain phases on the menstrual cycle in non-clinical samples of women. There is also a small evidence base that suggests that women with BPD show symptom exacerbation during the late luteal phase of their menstrual cycle.

CONCLUSION

More work is required to establish the nature and mechanisms of interactions between gonadal hormones and symptom expression in BPD patients, and therapeutic endeavours need stringent empirical testing.

Salivary testosterone and cortisol levels in borderline personality disorder before and after a 12-week group dialectical behavior therapy intervention

Background

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a chronic, debilitating, and difficult to treat condition. BPD has recently been linked to steroid hormone dysregulation and medical conditions characterized by disturbed androgen metabolism. This study aimed to investigate cortisol and testosterone levels in BPD, and changes in hormones following psychological treatment.

Methods

Participants with BPD (n = 33) completed a 12-week Dialectical Behavior Therapy group program. Pre and post salivary testosterone and cortisol were analyzed. Baseline hormones in the BPD group were compared to age-and-sex matched controls (n = 33). Non-parametric tests were utilized to investigate group differences, pre-post treatment hormone and symptom changes, and associations between symptoms and hormone levels.

Results

Participants with BPD had significantly higher testosterone levels than controls. Mean testosterone levels in females with BPD were double that of female controls. Testosterone and cortisol levels were related, and some BPD symptoms were associated with with hormone levels. BPD symptoms reduced significantly with treatment, however pre to post hormone levels did not change.

Conclusions

This study supports an association between BPD symptoms and neuroendocrine dysfunction at baseline, however we found no reduction in hormone dysfunction post treatment. Further research into relationships between stress signaling and neuroendocrine disturbances in BPD may inform aetiological and treatment models.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618000477224. Registered on 3 April 2018.

The impact of childhood maltreatment on women's reproductive health, with a focus on symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Childhood maltreatment leads to lifelong health risks, particularly in women. Although reproductive health has been linked to such maltreatment, limited literature exists on its association with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

OBJECTIVES

In a sample of psychiatrically healthy women, we evaluated the impact of child maltreatment (subtypes of abuse and neglect) on women's reproductive health outcomes, specifically PCOS.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The 237 psychiatrically healthy women, aged between 18 and 79 years, were control participants in a case-control study (SHARED ROOTS), conducted in Cape Town, South Africa, between May 2014 and June 2017.

METHODS

Probable PCOS was based on a history of symptoms of ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism or a diagnosis of PCOS. We conducted hierarchical logistic regression models to assess which child maltreatment subtypes (emotional, physical and sexual abuse and emotional and physical neglect) were significantly associated with PCOS, controlling for sociodemographic and clinical factors.

RESULTS

Probable PCOS was present in 29 (12.2 %) women. Emotional abuse (31.6 %) was the most frequent type of child maltreatment and was significantly associated with PCOS (OR = 5.11, CI 1.87; 13.98), including when other maltreatment types were accounted for (OR = 3.90, CI 1.27; 12.02). Physical abuse was associated with PCOS (OR = 4.21, CI 1.43; 12.38), but was not significant when other maltreatment types were factored in.

CONCLUSIONS

Child maltreatment is independently associated with PCOS in women without psychiatric disorders. In the context of all maltreatment subtypes, emotional abuse remained associated with PCOS, suggesting its unique effect on this endocrinopathy.

Targeting the Endocannabinoid System in Borderline Personality Disorder: Corticolimbic and Hypothalamic Perspectives

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a chronic debilitating psychiatric disorder characterized mainly by emotional instability, chaotic interpersonal relationships, cognitive disturbance (e.g., dissociation and suicidal thoughts) and maladaptive behaviors. BPD has a high rate of comorbidity with other mental disorders and a high burden on society. In this review, we focused on two compromised brain regions in BPD - the hypothalamus and the corticolimbic system, emphasizing the involvement and potential contribution of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to improvement in symptoms and coping. The hypothalamus-regulated endocrine axes (hypothalamic pituitary - gonadal, thyroid & adrenal) have been found to be dysregulated in BPD. There is also substantial evidence for limbic system structural and functional changes in BPD, especially in the amygdala and hippocampus, including cortical regions within the corticolimbic system. Extensive expression of CB1 and CB2 receptors of the ECS has been found in limbic regions and the hypothalamus. This opens new windows of opportunity for treatment with cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) as no other pharmacological treatment has shown long-lasting improvement in the BPD population to date. This review aims to show the potential role of the ECS in BPD patients through their most affected brain regions, the hypothalamus and the corticolimbic system. The literature reviewed does not allow for general indications of treatment with CBD in BPD. However, there is enough knowledge to indicate a treatment ratio of a high level of CBD to a low level of THC. A randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of cannabinoid based treatments in BPD is warranted.

Psychiatric comorbidities and adverse childhood experiences in women with self-reported polycystic ovary syndrome: An Australian population-based study

PURPOSE

PCOS is associated with increased risk for depression and anxiety but its association with other psychiatric disorders is less clear, especially in community drawn populations. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in women with PCOS and examine the factors associated with psychiatric disorders in this population.

METHOD

A cross-sectional analysis of survey data was performed in community-recruited women born 1989-95 from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health (ALSWH). 760 and 7910 women with and without self-reported PCOS were included. The outcomes examined were self-reported depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar affective disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder and other disorders. The main explanatory variable was self-reported PCOS status. Other factors examined included adverse childhood experience scale (ACES), social support, perceived stress, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Chi-square tests were used to examine the differences in prevalence between groups. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess factors associated with psychiatric disorders.

RESULTS

Women with PCOS reported a significantly higher prevalence of the psychiatric disorders examined, compared with women without PCOS. PCOS was significantly associated with depression (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.4, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.2-1.7), anxiety (adjusted OR 1.2, 95 % CI 1.0-1.5), post-traumatic stress disorder (adjusted OR 1.5, 95 % CI 1.1-1.9) and obsessive compulsive disorder (adjusted OR 1.8, 95 % CI 1.2-2.5). More women with PCOS reported adverse childhood experiences (ACES ≥4: 19.3 % vs 9.2 %) and this was the strongest factor associated with psychiatric disorders (ACES ≥4: adjusted OR 2.9, 95 % CI 2.4-3.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with PCOS had higher prevalence of various psychiatric conditions and adverse childhood experiences compared with women without PCOS. ACES was the strongest correlate of psychiatric disorders. These findings support PCOS is a reproductive, metabolic and psychological disorder and reinforces guideline recommendations to assess psychological wellbeing for in women with PCOS.

Screening for Personality Disorders: A Three-Item Screener From the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-3)

To encourage screening for personality disorders (PDs), we developed (in previous work) self-report scales for PDs using the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP). The combined score from three of the scales-inter-personal sensitivity, interpersonal ambivalence, and aggression-requiring 15 items (IIP-15) did the best job of distinguishing between respondents with any versus no PD. The goals for the present work were (a) to cross-validate the IIP-15 by examining its performance using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analyses in a new sample (N = 410), and (b) to investigate the utility of a brief three-item variant (IIP-3). The present results again documented the good operating characteristics of the IIP-15. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were all above. 70. The operating characteristics of the IIP-3 were nearly as good despite its brevity and support its use as an initial screen for PDs.

Borderline Personality Disorder in Patients With Medical Illness: A Review of Assessment, Prevalence, and Treatment Options

OBJECTIVE

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) occurs in 0.7% to 3.5% of the general population. Patients with BPD experience excessive comorbidity of psychiatric and somatic diseases and are known to be high users of health care services. Because of a range of challenges related to adverse health behaviors and their interpersonal style, patients with BPD are often regarded as "difficult" to interact with and treat optimally.

METHODS

This narrative review focuses on epidemiological studies on BPD and its comorbidity with a specific focus on somatic illness. Empirically validated treatments are summarized, and implementation of specific treatment models is discussed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of BPD among psychiatric inpatients (9%-14%) and outpatients (12%-18%) is high; medical service use is very frequent, annual societal costs vary between &OV0556;11,000 and &OV0556;28,000. BPD is associated with cardiovascular diseases and stroke, metabolic disease including diabetes and obesity, gastrointestinal disease, arthritis and chronic pain, venereal diseases, and HIV infection as well as sleep disorders. Psychotherapy is the treatment of choice for BPD. Several manualized treatments for BPD have been empirically validated, including dialectical behavior therapy, transference-focused psychotherapy, mentalization-based therapy, and schema-focused therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Health care could be substantially improved if all medical specialties would be familiar with BPD, its pathology, medical and psychiatric comorbidities, complications, and treatment. In mental health care, several empirically validated treatments that are applicable in a wide range of clinical settings are available.