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Neuroimaging and personality disorders.
Michael S McCloskey1, K Luan Phan, Emil F Coccaro
1Department of Psychiatry, MC #3077, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. mmcclosk@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu
Current Psychiatry Reports
|February 19, 2005
Summary
Neuroimaging studies reveal distinct brain circuit dysfunctions in personality disorders. Borderline and antisocial personality disorders show fronto-limbic issues, while schizotypal personality disorder involves temporal lobe and basal ganglia compromise.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- Personality disorders involve dysfunctional patterns across cognitive, affective, impulse control, and interpersonal domains.
- These domains are associated with specific neural circuits.
- Advancements in neuroimaging enable examination of neural integrity in individuals with personality disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the neuroimaging literature on specific personality disorders.
- To identify neural circuit dysfunctions associated with these disorders.
Main Methods:
- Review of functional and structural neuroimaging studies.
- Focus on borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder (including psychopathy), and schizotypal personality disorder.
Main Results:
- Evidence supports fronto-limbic circuit dysfunction in borderline and antisocial personality disorders.
- Compromise in temporal lobe and basal striatal-thalamic regions is evident in schizotypal personality disorder.
Conclusions:
- Neuroimaging research highlights specific neural correlates for different personality disorders.
- Findings suggest distinct neurobiological underpinnings for borderline, antisocial, and schizotypal personality disorders.