Stress Induction for Borderline Personality Disorder
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial aims to explore how personality traits and the body's stress hormones affect decision-making, particularly in people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Participants will engage in various activities, including stress-inducing tasks and completing surveys. Researchers will monitor heart rate, blood flow, and stress responses using simple measures like heart and skin sensors. Individuals with BPD who experience mood swings and have at least three BPD symptoms, including emotional instability, might be a good fit for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding BPD and its effects on decision-making.
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.
What prior data suggests that this stress induction procedure is safe?
Research has shown that people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) often experience stronger stress reactions. They typically find it harder to relax, whether calm or under stress, which means they might feel stress more intensely than others. However, these stress reactions usually don't cause physical harm.
During stress tests in trials, researchers closely monitor participants. They might check heart rate and blood flow, among other things, to ensure safety. While people with BPD might feel more stress, studies have not found any major problems directly caused by the stress tests themselves.
Overall, researchers have used the stress test method safely in research, but participants should always inform the research team if they feel uncomfortable.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores stress induction as a novel approach for understanding Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Unlike traditional treatments for BPD, such as psychotherapy and medication that focus on managing symptoms, this technique aims to study how controlled stress exposure affects individuals with BPD. By observing these responses, researchers hope to uncover new insights into the condition's mechanisms, potentially leading to more effective therapies in the future. This exploration could pave the way for innovative strategies that address the core aspects of BPD rather than just alleviating its symptoms.
What evidence suggests that stress induction is effective for studying decision-making in borderline personality disorder?
Research has shown that people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) often react strongly to stress. One study found that individuals with BPD are more likely to experience stress-related issues, such as memory problems and difficulty controlling impulses. This intense stress response can influence their decisions and actions. Many with BPD have also experienced traumatic events, increasing their sensitivity to stress. The trial will involve a controlled stress induction to better understand how stress affects individuals with BPD, potentially leading to improved treatments.678910
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
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Session 1
Participants complete online behavioral tasks, a stress induction procedure, self-report surveys, and a cognitive assessment. Psychophysiological measures are collected.
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for any immediate effects post-session and data is analyzed for decision-making patterns.
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?
1
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Participants will undergo a controlled stress induction approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes into Session 1.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Lead Sponsor
North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute
Collaborator
Citations
Borderline personality disorder: Stress reactivity or stress ...
Our longitudinal study of a well-characterized clinical sample found more evidence for stress generation than for stress-induced decompensation in BPD.
Effects of acute stress on executive functions in depression ...
This review found a heightened susceptibility to stress-induced impairment of working memory in depression, and of response inhibition in borderline personality ...
How Do Stress Exposure and Stress Regulation Relate to ...
Overall, traumatic events were found in 70.7% of patients with BPD, among which were emotional neglect (43.7%), witnessing violence (43.0%), physical abuse ( ...
4.
bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com
bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-025-06928-8Characteristics and outcomes of individuals screening positive ...
This study aims to distinguish the clinical profile and outcomes of patients screening positive for a threshold of BPD traits in the inpatient psychiatric ...
What we have learned about early detection and intervention ...
Individuals diagnosed with BPD face an increased risk of physical health issues (El-Gabalawy, Katz, & Sareen, 2010) and premature mortality, ...
Characteristics and outcomes of individuals screening ...
MSI-BPD + patients report significantly higher severity of anxiety, depression, suicidality, self-harm, and global symptoms on admission than ...
Patients with borderline personality disorder show initially ...
BPD patients exhibit lower psychophysiological relaxation levels at baseline and throughout the experiment, while there was no significant difference in ...
Borderline Personality Disorder: Risk Factors and Early ...
In the general population, cumulative prevalence rates of BPD in 16-year-olds and 22-year-olds are 1.4% and 3.2%, respectively, while in mental health settings, ...
9.
researchgate.net
researchgate.net/publication/322724158_Stress_reactivity_and_pain-mediated_stress_regulation_in_remitted_patients_with_borderline_personality_disorder(PDF) Stress reactivity and pain-mediated stress regulation ...
However, recent findings revealed enhanced stress responsivity in remitted BPD compared to HC, as remitted BPD patients react with an increased urge for self- ...
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): In the Midst of ...
Under stressful conditions, BPD patients are unable to regulate their emotions and quickly return to their baseline emotional states. Since BPD ...
Other People Viewed
By Subject
By Trial
Related Searches
Unbiased Results
We believe in providing patients with all the options.
Your Data Stays Your Data
We only share your information with the clinical trials you're trying to access.
Verified Trials Only
All of our trials are run by licensed doctors, researchers, and healthcare companies.