Exploring nonverbal synchrony in borderline personality disorder: A double‐blind placebo‐controlled study using oxytocin

Abstract

Objectives. Interpersonal dysfunction is a central feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD), and the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) has been shown to impact patients' behaviour in numerous ways. Nonverbal signals such as the coordination of body movement (nonverbal synchrony) are associated with the success of interpersonal exchanges and could thus be influenced by features of BPD and by the administration of OT.Design. We explored the effect of intranasal OT (inOT) on nonverbal synchrony in sixteen patients with BPD and fifteen healthy controls (CTL) randomly assigned to two double-blind clinical interviews under inOT and placebo (PL).Methods. Nonverbal synchrony was assessed by automated video-analyses of subject's and interviewer's body movement. Lagged cross-correlations were used to objectively quantify coordination in dyads.Results. Synchrony was higher than pseudosynchrony (= synchrony expected by chance), and there was a differential effect of inOT between groups: While healthy controls displayed increased synchrony under inOT, patients with BPD showed low levels of synchrony under inOT. Additionally, patient's synchrony was negatively associated with self-reported childhood trauma.

Facial and Vocal Expressions During Clinical Interviews Suggest an Emotional Modulation Paradox in Borderline Personality Disorder: An Explorative Study

“…Such paradox places the patient in an interactional situation that may contribute to interpersonal conflict, which is another prominent BPD feature. As it has been suggested in studies of synchrony in BPD patients, "their alertness in social situations may hinder them to fully engage non-verbally" (46). Our initial results may add to the understanding of alterations in the quality of relationships in this patients.…”

Oxytocin as the Neurobiological Basis of Synchronization: A Research Proposal in Psychotherapy Settings

“…Oxytocin has also been suggested to exert effects on synchronization phenomena in psychotherapy settings. For instance, Ramseyer et al (2020) investigated synchronization of spontaneous head and body movements between patient and therapist, and found that oxytocin administration prior to a psychotherapy session resulted in higher movements coordination, compared to placebo condition. Although synchronization in body movements does not always coincide with PS (Palumbo et al, 2017), these intriguing results encourage the efforts toward filling the gap in the research on the association between oxytocin and all human synchronization phenomena.…”

Facial Affective Behavior in Borderline Personality Disorder Indicating Two Different Clusters and Their Influence on Inpatient Treatment Outcome: A Preliminary Study

“…For instance, Ramseyer and Tschacher (2011) found that higher non-verbal synchrony (i.e., body movement) between the patient and the therapist characterized psychotherapies with higher symptom reduction. In a similar vein, Ramseyer et al (2020) examined non-verbal synchrony in BPD patients and healthy controls under oxytocin and placebo. The results showed that the controls displayed increased synchrony under the oxytocin condition, whereas the BPD patients did not.…”