Investigating decision-making in Borderline Personality Disorder
Affect-based Impulsivity in Borderline Personality Disorder: Developing a Neurocomputational Phenotype
This study is testing how personality traits and stress affect decision-making in people aged 18 to 45 with Borderline Personality Disorder.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 106 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) |
| Trial ID | NCT06880640 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This research focuses on understanding how personality traits and neuroendocrine systems influence decision-making in individuals aged 18-45. Participants will engage in online behavioral tasks, undergo a stress induction procedure, and complete self-report surveys and cognitive assessments. The study will collect psychophysiological data, including heart rate and nervous system activity, to explore the relationship between neuroendocrine activity and decision-making patterns.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include individuals aged 18-45 with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder who meet specific criteria related to symptom severity and cognitive ability.
Not a fit: Patients outside the age range or those without a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved understanding and treatment strategies for individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder.
How similar studies have performed: While this approach is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of decision-making in psychiatric conditions.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) group: * Score of 38 or higher on Personality Assessment Inventory-Borderline Scale (PAI-BOR) * Participants in the BPD group will be primarily recruited from the two DEPENd lab studies that maintain large samples of BPD participants. To ensure maximal similarity between BPD participants recruited from other DEPENd lab studies and BPD participants recruited through other recruitment sources, the investigators will use the same criteria for the BPD group in the current study as the criteria used in the other DEPENd lab studies. BPD participants in the two DEPENd lab studies from which the investigators will be recruiting must meet the following criteria: 1. 3+ BPD symptoms, one of which must be affective instability, per clinical interview 2. 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 * Score below 50th percentile on World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) * Absence of any current or lifetime psychiatric disorder, including personality disorders as determined by diagnostic interviews (SIDP and SCID), if the participant had participated in the lab's other studies (IRB Nos. 20-1735 and 21-0602). Combined Inclusion Criteria: * Ages 18-45 * Provision of signed and dated informed consent form * Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and lifestyle considerations and availability for the duration of the study * Willingness to participate in all components of the study * Participants must be able to speak, understand and read English. * Participants must have at least 20/40 visual acuity (correct or uncorrected). Exclusion Criteria: * Use of as needed antihypertensive agents within 12 hours prior to lab visit * Inability to refrain from using as needed psychotropic medications for 12 hours prior to lab visit * 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 * Family history of Bipolar I disorder in a first degree relative. * Participants are also 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.
Where this trial is running
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Michael Hallquist, PhD — University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Michael N Hallquist, PhD
- Email: michael.hallquist@unc.edu
- Phone: 412-613-9306
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.