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Structural alterations in white-matter tracts connecting (para-)limbic and prefrontal brain regions in borderline personality disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 June 2015

A. Lischke ,
M. Domin ,
H. J. Freyberger ,
H. J. Grabe ,
R. Mentel ,
D. Bernheim  and
M. Lotze
A. Lischke*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Greifswald, Germany Department of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Germany Functional Imaging, Center for Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
M. Domin
Affiliation:
Functional Imaging, Center for Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
H. J. Freyberger
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Greifswald, Germany Helios Hospital, Stralsund, Germany
H. J. Grabe
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Greifswald, Germany Helios Hospital, Stralsund, Germany
R. Mentel
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Greifswald, Germany
D. Bernheim
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Germany
M. Lotze
Affiliation:
Functional Imaging, Center for Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University of Greifswald, Germany
*
*Address for correspondence: A. Lischke, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Franz-Mehring-Str. 47, 17489, Germany. (Email: alexander.lischke@uni-greifswald.de)
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Abstract

Background

A dysfunctional network of prefrontal and (para-)limbic brain region has been suggested to underlie emotional dysregulation in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Abnormal activity in this network may be due to structural alterations in white-matter tracts connecting prefrontal and (para-)limbic brain regions. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the structural integrity of major white-matter tracts connecting these regions in BPD.

Method

Using diffusion tensor imaging, we investigated fractional anisotropy (FA), axonal anisotropy (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) in the uncinate fasciculus, the major white-matter tract connecting (para-)limbic and prefrontal brain regions, in 26 healthy controls (HC) and 26 BPD participants. To clarify the specificity of possible white-matter alterations among HC and BPD participants, FA, AD and RD were also investigated in the cingulum.

Results

We found distinct structural alterations in the uncinate fasciculus but not in the cingulum of BPD participants. Compared to HC participants, BPD participants showed lower FA and higher RD in the uncinate fasciculus. By contrast, AD did not differ in the uncinate fasciculus of HC and BPD participants.

Conclusions

Our finding of abnormal FA and RD in the uncinate fasciculus indicates distinct white-matter alterations in BPD, presumably due to stress-induced myelin degeneration in the aftermath of stressful life events. Although these alterations may account for abnormal activity in brain regions implicated in emotion dysregulation, such as the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex, it remains to be determined whether these alterations are specific for BPD.

Keywords

Amygdalaanterior cingulate cortexborderline personality disorderdiffusion tensor imagingprefrontal cortexuncinate fasciculuswhite matter
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 45 , Issue 15 , November 2015 , pp. 3171 - 3180
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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