Emotion-induced memory dysfunction in borderline personality disorder

Abstract

Introduction. Although emotional dysregulation is a core problem in borderline personality disorder (BPD), few neuropsychological studies have evaluated the impact of emotion. The present study aimed at the comprehensive investigation of verbal memory functions with and without emotionally relevant interference in BPD. BPD patients were expected to perform as well as healthy subjects in standard memory tasks but to show fewer capacities to control for emotionally negative interference.

Methods. 47 patients with BPD and 70 healthy control subjects participated. An experimental task assessed verbal memory with respect to standard and emotionally relevant and neutral interference learning conditions. Applied standard tests covered working memory, delayed memory, and word fluency.

Results. Memory performances of BPD patients were impaired when negatively valenced interference was conducted but normal in all other conditions. These results remained stable after controlling for comorbid major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Discussion. The present findings suggest no general impairment of verbal memory functions in BPD but control and inhibition of interference by emotionally significant material seem to be disturbed.

Keywords:

• Borderline personality disorder
• Emotion regulation
• Interference control
• Neuropsychology
• Verbal memory

Acknowledgements

Funding for this study was provided by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) to TB (BE 2536/4-1) and by the von Bodelschwinghsche Anstalten Bethel to MD; neither the DFG nor the von Bodelschwinghsche Anstalten Behtel had a further role in study design, in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, and in the decision to submit the paper for publication. All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

We would like to thank Mr Matthias Lindner, MD, Mrs Hella Höpp, MD, and Mrs Hedda Ribbert, PhD, for supporting recruitment of patients, and all subjects for their participation in the present study.