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Experimentally Assessed Reactive Aggression in Borderline Personality Disorder
Olga Kogan-Goloborodko1, Elisabeth Brügmann1, Jonathan Repple2
1Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Plos One
|November 17, 2016
Summary
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) patients exhibit heightened reactive aggression compared to healthy individuals. The modified Taylor Aggression Paradigm (mTAP) effectively quantifies this aggression, aiding diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Aggressive behavior is prevalent in Borderline personality disorder (BPD), impacting treatment outcomes.
- Understanding the mechanisms of aggression in BPD is crucial for clinical advancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the modified Taylor Aggression Paradigm (mTAP) for differentiating reactive aggression in BPD patients versus healthy controls.
- To investigate the relationship between reactive aggression, symptom severity, and impulsivity in BPD.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a modified Taylor Aggression Paradigm (mTAP) with varying provocation levels (low: 10-20 cents; high: 80-100 cents).
- Compared monetary subtractions (aggression) between BPD patients and healthy controls.
- Administered neuropsychological assessments to measure aggression and impulsivity.
Main Results:
- BPD patients displayed significantly higher overall aggression than controls.
- BPD patients showed increased aggression following high provocation and a greater differential response between high and low provocations.
- Neuropsychological tests confirmed elevated aggression and impulsivity in BPD patients, correlating with mTAP findings.
Conclusions:
- The mTAP is a viable tool for quantifying reactive aggression in Borderline personality disorder.
- This experimental measure can aid in future research and clinical diagnostic assessments for BPD.
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