Brain Scans Clarify BPD

[Joanne P]

I found this on psychcentral (add dot com). I would post the link to it but I am not allowed to post links until I reach 50 posts.

I think it's important in our healing to know that this is an organic condition. It is not "our fault." It is how the Lord wired us.

*******************


By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on September 4, 2009


Using real-time brain imaging, a team of researchers have discovered that patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) are physically unable to regulate emotion.

The findings, by Harold W. Koenigsberg, MD, professor of psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine suggest individuals with BPD are unable activate neurological networks that would help to control feelings.
The research will be published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers viewed how the brains of people with BPD reacted to social and emotional stimuli.
Koenigsberg found that when people with BPD attempted to control and reduce their reactions to disturbing emotional scenes, the anterior cingulate cortex and intraparetical sulci areas of the brain that are active in healthy people under the same conditions remained inactive in the BPD patients.

“This research shows that BPD patients are not able to use those parts of the brain that healthy people use to help regulate their emotions,” said Dr. Koenigsberg.

“This may explain why their emotional reactions are so extreme. The biological underpinnings of the disordered emotional control systems are central to borderline pathology. Studying which areas of the brain function differently in patients with borderline personality disorder can lead to more targeted uses of psycotherapy and medications, and also provide a link to connect the genetic basis of the disorder.”

According to background information in the article, borderline personality disorder is a common condition, affecting up to two percent of all adults in the United States, mostly women.

Characteristics of BPD include being so emotionally overreactive that they suffer alternating bouts of depression, anxiety, and anger, are interpersonally hypersensitive, and are impelled to self-destructive and even suicidal behavior.

Patients with BPD often exhibit other types of impulsive behaviors, including excessive spending, binge eating, and risky sex. BPD often occurs together with other psychiatric problems, particularly bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and other personality disorders.

The disorder is found in 10 to 20 percent of people in psychiatric care, and about 10 percent of people with this condition ultimately die of suicide. Only recently have researchers begun to identify underlying biological factors associated with the condition.

 

[dfly]

Thanks for the article

 

[WalrusGumBoot]

I think it's important in our healing to know that this is an organic condition. It is not "our fault." It is how the Lord wired us.

I do not have BPD, but my wife does. I have to agree and also disagree with the article and your statement. Certainly there is evidence that some that suffer with BPD come from normal parents where there was no childhood abuse or other trauma. But, there are those that had a childhood full of abuse and abandonment. Could this abuse "rewire" an otherwise healthy brain?

My wife had the worst of both worlds. A mother with BPD as well as her sister. A strong possibility of her maternal grandmother as well. A definite genetic link. However, she was abandoned by a schizophrenic father at 6, and then systematically abused and abandoned by her BPD mother throughout her childhood, then finally booted out of the house in her mid-teens.

The topic of nature vs. nurture (or the lack thereof) as the roots of this disorder has long been of interest to me.

 

[Joanne P]

You're welcome to dfly!

walrusgumboot (love the name!) ... I am so sorry to hear about what your wife has gone through. It's true that some people do seem to come from NT parents and can have relatively normal growing up periods. One explanation I have read for this is that such people might just be neurologically more sensitve people. So, to their emotional brain, things hurt them more easily. There is a book on "ESP's"- extra sensitive people, which seems to fit this mold a little bit.

It is common to find a genetic link and/or childhood abuse issues.

The neuroplasticity of the brain is fascinating. There is a dialogue between experience and tendency that shapes our neural connections. This is especially important in the early years. I believe it was speculated between the ages of 18 months- 3 years.

If this subject interests you, I suggest reading anything by Allan Shore. You will be amazed. I am rereading one of his books for the second time this summer. To answer your question, yes, abuse can rewire a normal and healthy brain. But the good news is, love can also rewire the suffering brain. Love, love, love... unconditional love. Love is the cure!

God bless!

 

[PegMonkey]

I found this on psychcentral (add dot com). I would post the link to it but I am not allowed to post links until I reach 50 posts.

I think it's important in our healing to know that this is an organic condition. It is not "our fault." It is how the Lord wired us.

*******************


By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on September 4, 2009


Using real-time brain imaging, a team of researchers have discovered that patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) are physically unable to regulate emotion.

The findings, by Harold W. Koenigsberg, MD, professor of psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine suggest individuals with BPD are unable activate neurological networks that would help to control feelings.
The research will be published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers viewed how the brains of people with BPD reacted to social and emotional stimuli.
Koenigsberg found that when people with BPD attempted to control and reduce their reactions to disturbing emotional scenes, the anterior cingulate cortex and intraparetical sulci areas of the brain that are active in healthy people under the same conditions remained inactive in the BPD patients.

“This research shows that BPD patients are not able to use those parts of the brain that healthy people use to help regulate their emotions,” said Dr. Koenigsberg.

“This may explain why their emotional reactions are so extreme. The biological underpinnings of the disordered emotional control systems are central to borderline pathology. Studying which areas of the brain function differently in patients with borderline personality disorder can lead to more targeted uses of psycotherapy and medications, and also provide a link to connect the genetic basis of the disorder.”

According to background information in the article, borderline personality disorder is a common condition, affecting up to two percent of all adults in the United States, mostly women.

Characteristics of BPD include being so emotionally overreactive that they suffer alternating bouts of depression, anxiety, and anger, are interpersonally hypersensitive, and are impelled to self-destructive and even suicidal behavior.

Patients with BPD often exhibit other types of impulsive behaviors, including excessive spending, binge eating, and risky sex. BPD often occurs together with other psychiatric problems, particularly bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and other personality disorders.

The disorder is found in 10 to 20 percent of people in psychiatric care, and about 10 percent of people with this condition ultimately die of suicide. Only recently have researchers begun to identify underlying biological factors associated with the condition.

You dont have BPD do you?
anyways, it may not be our fault that we developed BPD, but it is our responsibility to do something about it. We are not victoms. And as long as we think we are trapped, or victoms, thats when we can justify our negative behavior. It may be difficult to manage emotions or impossible at times to control symptoms, But doesn't mean you don't say sorry for your actions, and repent. BPD is an explaination not an excuse. You need to be free from condemnation though and know that God is working with your faults and shortcomings, your human and he knows why you are the why you are. But hes doesn't approve of you abusing and destroying everyone around you. Just like a serial killer may be phycho and kill someone, but he still goes to jail even though hes mental. Theres an accountability even if you have mental illness.
You can heal and revcover from BPD. The brain can physically regenerate itself. There are TONS of studies that tell about the AWSOME regenerative power of the brain. So BPD is not a life sentence.

 

[PegMonkey]

I just think the whole "its not your fault" mantra in this generation is straight from the devil.
Just cause BPD makes you more prone to anger and rage, ...the bible says to be angry but sin not. So even though you have mental issues doesn't mean sinning is okay. But know that God doesn't condemn us. He knows why we have BPD and sees our heart and gently brings us to a place (and sometimes not so gently) where we can see the the changes that we need to make and then helps us . Jesus doesn't allow anyone to remain the same if you want to follow him. BPD is not who you really are anyways, So God just wants to peel away the layers. These layers prevent you to obey the bible and obey the greatest command.: To love God and others. So whether BPD or not, God will refine every believer so that they can become who God desires them to be.

 

[Joanne P]

PegMonkey, why would you think I did not have BPD? I'm kind of curious.

I don't think we are oh-so-far apart on some things you say. In some ways I also disagree. People with BPD - are we victims? Well, what is a victim, first of all. Every person is a victim and victor in all sorts of ways. For certain though, we are challanged!

I agree we are not trapped. Also, I agree we have to say we are sorry and repent, as should everyone, you know... "Explaination" and "excuse"- well, it becomes an excuse only when someone is accusing us, really. But if both people on the two sides can work to consistently see it as an explaination... then excuses and accusations aren't needed. They aren't good communicating anyway. But you are very right that it is the explaination.

I think the "it's not your fault" is more from Buddha than the devil! Buddha is all about compassion, and that includes with ourselves!

What you said about God knowing us - and understanding why we are the way we are- I love that. He does know us and loves us. And how you say BPD is not who we are. That's so true!

What I find interesting is how some seem to want to say "it IS our fault" if we have faulty brains. No. That is neurobiology. I watched a great movie called Maze about a man with tourettes and OCD. He got even physically tired from his ordeals... great movie. His father however blamed HIM in the movie, thinking he could control his tourettes and swearing.

BPD is the same.

BPD people need lots of love. Princess Di was said to be borderline. Marilyn Monroe was said to be borderline. There are heaps of really nice people with BPD.

I am big into fighting the stigma of blame.

All that said... like everyone.... people with BPD should learn to communicate in effective ways. Not because they are bad people. But because that communication will help those suffering to love themselves and their neighbors most effectively.

 

[PegMonkey]

Joanne- Sorry if I came off defensive. or on edge . thanks for being so gracious in your reply.
I thought that you didn't have BPd, because you refer to "people with BPD" but you dont talk about yourself.
And i felt kind of upset, because everyone claims to be an expert, and talks about people with BPD like they are some kind of weird species, all basically alike, that you can generalize about and talk clinically about. As if all we are is a definition and are predictable in all of our behaviors. I dont feel like im a typical extreme case, and dont like to be lumped in. It bothers me that now whenever i get angry, people (not talking bout you) they say something like " what level of angry are you? this is just a symptom of BPD,......) .... NO, what is happening would make anyone angry. So im not so identityless that everything i do is BPD. I can get angry for valid reasons. and other times its is not right. Anways. Ive had a few incidents of rage, they were brought on by valid reasons, but they escalated into a level that was disportionate to the offense. Anyways. im not sure where Im going with this anymore just that we shouldnt all be referred to as "people with BPD" , we aren't all the same. And the symptoms dont manifest to the same degree or extreme or in the way way. and we are all in different places of awareness and recovery. So we aren't a BPD sub category of humans, we are humans with different varying struggles. Thanks for listening to my rant. I hope it comes off okay, and not hurtful, but those are my thoughts and feelings.

 

[Joanne P]

Joanne- Sorry if I came off defensive. or on edge . thanks for being so gracious in your reply.

No worries.

I thought that you didn't have BPd, because you refer to "people with BPD" but you dont talk about yourself.

I think this is because I'm afraid of being judged. I have had people judge me so much before knowing me, if they know I am BPD. To many people being BPD= being a bad person. It sort of breaks my heart. But, no, I do have BPD. I was diagnosed at 19, but had it my whole life in my opinion. (And yes, I know you cannot get diagnosed early on, lols... just saying)

And i felt kind of upset, because everyone claims to be an expert, and talks about people with BPD like they are some kind of weird species, all basically alike, that you can generalize about and talk clinically about. As if all we are is a definition and are predictable in all of our behaviors.

Me, too!!!! I feel just this way! And it is heartbreaking! I even had a doctor tell me I was not BPD because people with BPD are "unreasonable and difficult to get along with" and he said "and you are one of my most reasonable patients." I was very upset when he said this- upset that he did not understand BPD, and upset he stereotyped, and upset because I wanted to say, "I am TOO unreasonable!!" lol But all that I could say was, "oh...."

I dont feel like im a typical extreme case, and dont like to be lumped in. It bothers me that now whenever i get angry, people (not talking bout you) they say something like " what level of angry are you? this is just a symptom of BPD,......) .... NO, what is happening would make anyone angry. So im not so identityless that everything i do is BPD.

Yes! I have had people actually marginalize me because if I am happy they act like "oh she is manic" or if I am sad "oh it's an episode..." I want to say, um, no, it is called having a personality!

I'm not minimizling the emotional rollercoaster... I have that, too, but not always. I am not my BPD. And I don't want meds which will make me emotionally flat either. When they try to med me, my art suffers. I love my art and passion for it.

I can get angry for valid reasons. and other times its is not right. Anways.

Exactly, yeah...

Ive had a few incidents of rage, they were brought on by valid reasons, but they escalated into a level that was disportionate to the offense. Anyways. im not sure where Im going with this anymore just that we shouldnt all be referred to as "people with BPD" , we aren't all the same.

I'm very much with you here. I likely will continue to refer that way, so I hope it will not bug you. I won't be being obstinate... but I deflect habitually. I am not trying to group people as one thing at all. I'll see if I can find a better way to say it...

And the symptoms dont manifest to the same degree or extreme or in the way way. and we are all in different places of awareness and recovery. So we aren't a BPD sub category of humans, we are humans with different varying struggles. Thanks for listening to my rant. I hope it comes off okay, and not hurtful, but those are my thoughts and feelings.

No, you aren't hurtful to me at all. Thanks for sharing with me.