Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder is a complex and multifaceted mental health condition characterized by pervasive instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, emotions, and impulse control. This instability manifests in extreme emotional reactions, fear of abandonment, and self-destructive behaviors. The disorder significantly impacts daily functioning, often leading to distress in both personal and professional domains.
Genetic and Environmental Contributions
Borderline Personality...

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by significant mood fluctuations, including episodes of mania and depression. Elevated energy levels, heightened mood or irritability, impulsive behavior, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, and distractibility characterize mania. Individuals with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states, with periods of emotional stability lasting an average of six months to a year.

Personality Disorders: Schizotypal and Histrionic

Personality Disorders: Schizotypal and Histrionic

Schizotypal personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder are two distinct psychological conditions classified under personality disorders, each characterized by unique behavioral patterns and social difficulties. Both disorders significantly affect interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being, leading to social isolation and frustration.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Eccentric Behavior and Social Withdrawal
Schizotypal personality disorder is marked by odd or eccentric...

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Hormones, the biochemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, are pivotal in regulating bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. Each hormone's balance is crucial; imbalances can lead to significant physiological disruptions. Major hormones include oxytocin, cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and lactation.

Personality Disorders: Narcissistic and Avoidant

Personality Disorders: Narcissistic and Avoidant

Narcissistic and avoidant personality traits represent two contrasting patterns of behavior that significantly influence social interactions and self-perception. While individuals with narcissistic disorder seek admiration and validation, individuals with avoidant personality disorder withdraw due to fear of judgment.
Characteristics of Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic individuals exhibit an inflated sense of self-importance and an excessive need for admiration. They are often...

Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive

Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive

Dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are two separate psychological conditions that influence behavior, relationships, and overall life functioning. Though both involve maladaptive behaviors, their core characteristics and motivations differ significantly.
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle with...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Clinical cut scores for the Farsi version of the Level of Personality Functioning Scale-Self-Report (LPFS-SR).

BMC psychiatry·2026

Same author

Personality functioning as generalized correlated changes in personality traits.

Journal of psychopathology and clinical science·2025

Same author

Psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Personality Assessment Inventory.

Frontiers in psychology·2025

Same author

The impact of demoralization on the stability of personality traits in a clinical sample.

Psychological assessment·2024

Same author

Comparing the DSM-5 categorical model of personality disorders and the alternative model of personality disorders regarding clinician judgments of risk and outcome.

Personality disorders·2024

Same author

What is a psychopathology dimension?

Clinical psychology review·2023

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Hormones and Borderline Personality Features.

Milagros Evardone¹, Gerianne M Alexander, Leslie C Morey

¹Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.

Personality and Individual Differences

|September 28, 2011

Summary

Prenatal hormone exposure, indicated by the 2D:4D digit ratio, may influence borderline personality traits. Lower androgen action markers correlated with increased borderline personality features and affective instability in both sexes.

More Related Videos

Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder

Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder

Published on: May 2, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder

Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder

Published on: May 2, 2025

Area of Science:

Psychology
Endocrinology
Behavioral Neuroscience

Background:

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is diagnosed more frequently in women, with symptom severity linked to sex steroid levels.
Prenatal hormones are known to influence sex-linked behaviors and hormonal responsiveness in mammals.
This research explores the potential role of prenatal hormone exposure in the development of BPD traits.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the hypothesis that prenatal hormone exposure influences borderline personality traits.
To examine the relationship between the 2D:4D digit ratio (a marker of prenatal androgen action) and BPD features.
To assess salivary hormone levels and their correlation with BPD traits and emotional reactivity.

Main Methods:

Recruited 58 men and 52 women for the study.
Measured the 2D:4D digit ratio as an indicator of prenatal androgen exposure.
Administered the Borderline Features Subscales (BOR) of the Personality Assessment Inventory, gender role questionnaires, and sex-linked cognitive tasks.
Collected salivary hormone samples to assess hormonal fluctuations.

Main Results:

The 2D:4D digit ratio significantly predicted the affective component of borderline personality in both sexes.
Ratios indicating weaker prenatal androgen action were associated with greater overall borderline personality features and affective instability.
Women with higher affective instability exhibited greater estradiol fluctuations, suggesting a link between stress, emotional reactivity, and hormonal function.

Conclusions:

Prenatal hormonal factors may contribute to the development of gender-linked maladaptive behaviors, including borderline personality traits.
The 2D:4D ratio serves as a potential biomarker for understanding the influence of early hormonal environments on personality development.
Hormonal influences on typical gender-linked behaviors may extend to atypical, maladaptive expressions.