Childhood sexual abuse in relation to neurobiological challenge tests in patients with borderline personality disorder and normal controls

Psychiatry Res. 2006 Mar 30;141(3):337-41. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2005.02.009. Epub 2006 Feb 23.

Abstract

This study examined whether abnormal responses to neurobiological challenge tests in borderline personality disorder (BPD) are related to a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). We compared patients meeting BPD criteria (n=24), with and without histories of CSA, with normal controls (n=12) on the results of challenges with meta-chlorphenylpiperazine (m-CPP), pyridostigmine and clonidine. No differences were found between abused and non-abused patients with BPD. These results do not support the hypothesis that CSA is directly related to neurobiological abnormalities in BPD.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adrenergic alpha-Agonists* / pharmacology
  • Adult
  • Borderline Personality Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Borderline Personality Disorder / epidemiology*
  • Borderline Personality Disorder / psychology
  • Child
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / diagnosis
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / psychology
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Clonidine* / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Piperazines* / pharmacology
  • Prolactin / metabolism
  • Pyridostigmine Bromide* / pharmacology
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists* / pharmacology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Adrenergic alpha-Agonists
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Piperazines
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists
  • Prolactin
  • Pyridostigmine Bromide
  • Clonidine
  • 1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine