Stress Induction for Borderline Personality Disorder

Overseen By Michael N Hallquist, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Must not be taking: Antihypertensives, Psychotropics

Disqualifiers: Psychotic disorder, Bipolar I, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

106 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this research study is to investigate how personality traits and neuroendocrine systems relate to decision-making patterns in individuals 18-45 years old. The main question it aims to answer is how neuroendocrine activity impacts decision-making. Participants will complete online behavioral tasks, a stress induction procedure, self-report surveys, and a cognitive assessment. During the session, psychophysiological measures will be collected, including electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac impedance (ICG) to monitor heart rate and blood flow, as well as electrodermal activity (EDA), blood drop samples, and saliva collection to assess nervous system activity.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires participants to refrain from using certain medications, specifically as needed antihypertensive agents and psychotropic medications, for 12 hours before the lab visit.

How does the stress induction treatment differ from other treatments for borderline personality disorder?

Stress induction treatment for borderline personality disorder is unique because it focuses on the role of stress in both causing and being caused by symptoms, unlike other treatments that may not specifically target stress. This approach considers the altered stress response in BPD, particularly involving the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is often dysfunctional in these patients. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Michael Hallquist, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals aged 18-45 who may have personality traits associated with impulsivity or are diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Healthy participants without these conditions can also join as controls. Specific eligibility criteria details were not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) group: Score of 38 or higher on Personality Assessment Inventory-Borderline Scale (PAI-BOR)

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) group: Participants must score at least 80 on the Reynolds Intellectual Screening Test (RIST)

Health Control (HC) Group: Score of 12 or lower on PAI-BOR

Exclusion Criteria

I haven't taken any emergency blood pressure medication in the last 12 hours.

Excluded for any of the following: cardiac pacemaker, aneurysm clip, cochlear implants, pregnancy, shrapnel, history of metal fragments in eyes, neurostimulators, weight of 250 lbs. or more, or claustrophobia

History of psychotic disorder, Bipolar I disorder, autism spectrum disorder, reactive attachment disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, motor disorder, head injury, mental retardation, neurological disorder, or current substance dependence

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Session 1

Participants complete online behavioral tasks, a stress induction procedure, self-report surveys, and a cognitive assessment. Psychophysiological measures are collected.

One-time session

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any immediate effects post-session and data is analyzed for decision-making patterns.

1-2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Stress Induction

Trial Overview The study investigates the relationship between neuroendocrine activity and decision-making in people with BPD compared to healthy controls. It involves online tasks, stress induction, surveys, cognitive tests, and monitoring heart rate, blood flow, skin conductance, and hormone levels.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Stress Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will undergo a controlled stress induction approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes into Session 1.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,588

Recruited

4,364,000+

North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute

Collaborator

Trials

61

Recruited

4,600+

Citations

1. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dexamethasone suppression test in borderline personality disorder: impact of PTSD symptoms. [2015]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Examination of Stress Generation and Stress Exposure Models in Relation to Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder. [2021]

3. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Borderline personality disorder, trauma, and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. [2020]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Trauma, dissociation, and posttraumatic stress disorder in female borderline patients with and without substance abuse problems. [2022]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How Do Stress Exposure and Stress Regulation Relate to Borderline Personality Disorder? [2020]