Cognition in adults with borderline personality disorder

Abstract

Objective Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a common and disabling mental health disorder and has detrimental effects on affected individuals across multiple domains. We aimed to investigate whether individuals with BPD differ from control subjects in terms of cognitive functions, and to see if there is a relationship between cognitive functions, impulsivity, and BPD symptom severity. Methods BPD individuals (n = 26; mean age = 26.7; 69.2% female) and controls (n = 58; mean age = 25.3; 51.7% female) were enrolled. Intra/Extra-Dimensional Set Shift (IED) and One Touch Stockings of Cambridge (OTS) tasks from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were used to assess cognitive functions. Barratt Impulsivity Scale-version 11 (BIS−11) was administered to measure impulsivity and both the Zanarini Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder self-report and the clinician-administered versions were used to assess BPD symptom severity. Results BPD group showed significantly impaired cognitive performance on the IED task versus controls, but there was not a significant difference in the OTS task. BPD symptom severity was positively correlated with trait (BIS-11) impulsivity and no correlation was found between BPD symptom severity and cognitive functions. Conclusions This study suggests people with BPD experience impaired cognitive flexibility and heightened impulsivity. Only impulsivity appeared to be directly related to symptom severity, perhaps indicating that cognitive inflexibility could be a vulnerability marker. Future research should focus on a longitudinal approach to extend clinical and theoretical knowledge in this area.

Borderline personality disorder and cognition: unraveling the enigma one piece at a time!

“…The study interestingly reported a significant positive association between borderline personality disorder symptom severity and impulsivity. Also, the cognitive flexibility of patients with borderline personality disorder is significantly compromised than the healthy controls; however, no association between borderline symptom severity and cognitive functions was measured 1 …”

“…The study of Aslan et al 1 has not ruled out psychiatric comorbidities like other personality disorders, depression, and anxiety disorders in their study, which can be a major confounder in this study. Though the authors have acknowledged their limitations, it is known that these psychiatric conditions can significantly affect cognition and impulsivity as well as can mask the symptom severity of borderline personality disorder.…”

“…Aslan et al 1 conducted a study on patients with borderline personality disorder that investigated cognition, impulsivity, and the correlation of these parameters with symptom severity of borderline personality disorder. The authors also compared these parameters with matched healthy controls.…”

“…Also, the cognitive flexibility of patients with borderline personality disorder is significantly compromised than the healthy controls; however, no association between borderline symptom severity and cognitive functions was measured. 1 Earlier evidence suggests significant impairment of social cognition and neurocognition in patients with borderline personality disorder, significantly impairing their real word functioning. 2,3 The severity of the psychopathology of borderline personality disorder is associated with the extent of neurocognitive impairment.…”