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Updated: Nov 22, 2025

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
Emotion dysregulation in borderline personality disorder: A fronto-limbic imbalance?
Maurizio Sicorello1, Christian Schmahl1
1Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, C4, 11, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
Abstract:
Borderline personality disorder is most consistently characterized as a disorder of the experience and regulation of emotions. Neuropathological models have predominantly explained these clinical traits with an imbalance between prefrontal regulatory and limbic emotion generating structures. Here, we review the current evidential state of the fronto-limbic imbalance hypothesis of borderline personality disorder, based on task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging research. In turn, we discuss challenges to the notion that (1) amygdala hyperreactivity underlies emotional hyperreactivity and deficits in (2) prefrontal activity or (3) fronto-limbic connectivity underly emotion regulation deficits. We offer several suggestions to improve consolidation and interpretation of research in this area.
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