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Cattarinussi G, Meda N, Miola A, Sambataro F. The functional connectivity of the right superior temporal gyrus is associated with psychological risk and resilience factors for suicidality. J Affect Disord 2024; 357:51-59. [PMID: 38653349 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Suicide attempters show increased activation in the right superior temporal gyrus (rSTG). Here, we investigated the rSTG functional connectivity (FC) to identify a functional network involved in suicidality and its associations with psychological suicidality risk and resilience factors. METHODS The resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 151 healthy individuals from the Human Connectome Project Young Adult database were used to explore the FC of the rSTG with itself and with the rest of the brain. The correlation between the rSTG FC and loneliness and purpose in life scores was assessed with the NIH Toolbox. The effect of sex was also investigated. RESULTS The rSTG had a positive FC with bilateral cortical and subcortical regions, including frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital, limbic, and cerebellar regions, and a negative FC with the medulla oblongata. The FC of the rSTG with itself and with the left central operculum were associated with loneliness scores. The within rSTG FC was also negatively correlated with purpose in life scores, although at a trend level. We did not find any effect of sex on FC and its associations with psychological factors. LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional design, the limited age range, and the lack of measures of suicidality limit the generalizability of our findings. CONCLUSIONS The rSTG functional network is associated with loneliness and purpose in life. Together with the existing literature on suicide, this supports the idea that the neural activity of rSTG may contribute to suicidality by modulating risk and resilience factors associated with suicidality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Cattarinussi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Nicola Meda
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy; Padova University Hospital, Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandro Miola
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padua, Italy; Casa di Cura Parco dei Tigli, Padova, Italy
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padua, Italy; Padova University Hospital, Padua, Italy.
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Schurz M, Berenz JP, Maerz J, Perla R, Buchheim A, Labek K. Brain Activation for Social Cognition and Emotion Processing Tasks in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Meta-Analysis of Neuroimaging Studies. Brain Sci 2024; 14:395. [PMID: 38672044 PMCID: PMC11048542 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14040395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The present meta-analysis summarizes brain activation for social cognition and emotion-processing tasks in borderline personality disorder (BPD). We carried out two meta-analyses to elaborate on commonalities and potential differences between the two types of tasks. In the first meta-analysis, we implemented a more liberal strategy for task selection (including social and emotional content). The results confirmed previously reported hyperactivations in patients with BPD in the bilateral amygdala and prefrontal cortex and hypoactivations in bilateral inferior frontal gyri. When applying a stricter approach to task selection, focusing narrowly on social cognition tasks, we only found activation in prefrontal areas, particularly in the anterior cingulate and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. We review the role of these areas in social cognition in healthy adults, suggesting that the observed BPD hyperactivations may reflect an overreliance on self-related thought in social cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Schurz
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, and Digital Science Center (DiSC), University of Innsbruck, Universitätsstrasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jan-Patrick Berenz
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Universitätsstrasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jeff Maerz
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Universitätsstrasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Raphael Perla
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, and Digital Science Center (DiSC), University of Innsbruck, Universitätsstrasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Universitätsstrasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Karin Labek
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Universitätsstrasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Gander M, Buchheim A, Sevecke K. Personality Disorders and Attachment Trauma in Adolescent Patients with Psychiatric Disorders. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2024; 52:457-471. [PMID: 37889355 PMCID: PMC10896792 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-023-01141-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
This study examined how personality disorders (PD) differ with respect to gender, attachment status and traumatic childhood experiences in adolescent psychiatric inpatients. In particular, we investigated attachment-related traumatic material underlying adolescent PD. Our sample consisted of 175 inpatient adolescents aged 14 to 18 years (77% female, Mage = 15.13, SD = 1.35; 23% male, Mage =14.85, SD = 1.41). Thirty-nine patients (22%) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for a PD according to the SCID-II PD: 51% avoidant, 13% obsessive-compulsive, 13% antisocial, 19% borderline, 2% paranoid and 2% histrionic. In the total sample, eighty-three (47%) of our inpatients were classified with an unresolved attachment status using the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP). We did not find any significant gender differences for patients with and without a PD. Our results revealed a higher percentage of unresolved attachment status in patients with a PD. The in-depth analysis of the total sample showed that patients with a PD demonstrated more traumatic material in their attachment interviews indicating a greater severity of attachment trauma. Furthermore, patients with a PD reported higher scores on emotional and physical neglect. Intervention strategies targeting traumatic attachment-related themes might be useful to treat adolescents with PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Gander
- Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Universitätsstrasse 5-7, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, Milserstrasse 10, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Tirol, Austria.
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Universitätsstrasse 5-7, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
| | - Kathrin Sevecke
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, Milserstrasse 10, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Tirol, Austria
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
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Gander M, Buchheim A, Kohlböck G, Sevecke K. Unresolved attachment and identity diffusion in adolescence. Dev Psychopathol 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38305076 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579424000014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
This study examined the severity of unresolved attachment underlying adolescent identity diffusion. Our sample consisted of 180 inpatient adolescents aged 14 to 18 years (77% female, M age = 15.13, SD = 1.35; 23% male, M age = 14.85, SD = 1.41) and 84 age-matched non-clinical adolescents (52% female, M age = 16.14, SD = 1.21; 48% males, M age = 15.98, SD = 1.07). We used the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP) interview to assess attachment representations and the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA) questionnaire to evaluate the severity of identity diffusion. Our results demonstrate a higher amount of unresolved attachment and identity diffusion in the patient sample than in the control sample. Furthermore, patients with an unresolved attachment status scored higher on identity diffusion than those with no unresolved attachment pattern. Interestingly, this was not found in the control group. Furthermore, patients with a greater severity of unresolved attachment showed the highest maladaptive identity development scores. Psychotherapeutic interventions integrating attachment-related aspects might be useful to treat young people with identity diffusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Gander
- University of Innsbruck, Institute of Psychology, Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Anna Buchheim
- University of Innsbruck, Institute of Psychology, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gabriele Kohlböck
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Kathrin Sevecke
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, Hall in Tirol, Austria
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Hennig-Fast K, Meissner D, Steuwe C, Dehning S, Blautzik J, Eilert DW, Zill P, Müller N, Meindl T, Reiser M, Möller HJ, Falkai P, Driessen M, Buchheim A. The Interplay of Oxytocin and Attachment in Schizophrenic Patients: An fMRI Study. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1125. [PMID: 37626482 PMCID: PMC10452454 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13081125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attachment theory offers an important framework for understanding interpersonal interaction experiences. In the present study, we examined the neural correlates of attachment patterns and oxytocin in schizophrenic patients (SZP) compared to healthy controls (HC) using fMRI. We assumed that male SZP shows a higher proportion of insecure attachment and an altered level of oxytocin compared to HC. On a neural level, we hypothesized that SZP shows increased neural activation in memory and self-related brain regions during the activation of the attachment system compared to HC. METHODS We used an event-related design for the fMRI study based on stimuli that were derived from the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System to examine attachment representations and their neural and hormonal correlates in 20 male schizophrenic patients compared to 20 male healthy controls. RESULTS A higher proportion of insecure attachment in schizophrenic patients compared to HC could be confirmed. In line with our hypothesis, Oxytocin (OXT) levels in SZP were significantly lower than in HC. We found increasing brain activations in SZP when confronted with personal relevant sentences before attachment relevant pictures in the precuneus, TPJ, insula, and frontal areas compared to HC. Moreover, we found positive correlations between OXT and bilateral dlPFC, precuneus, and left ACC in SZP only. CONCLUSION Despite the small sample sizes, the patients' response might be considered as a mode of dysregulation when confronted with this kind of personalized attachment-related material. In the patient group, we found positive correlations between OXT and three brain areas (bilateral dlPFC, precuneus, left ACC) and may conclude that OXT might modulate within this neural network in SZP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Hennig-Fast
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians University, 80336 Munich, Germany (H.-J.M.); (P.F.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bielefeld, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Dominik Meissner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians University, 80336 Munich, Germany (H.-J.M.); (P.F.)
| | - Carolin Steuwe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bielefeld, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Sandra Dehning
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians University, 80336 Munich, Germany (H.-J.M.); (P.F.)
| | - Janusch Blautzik
- Department of Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk W. Eilert
- Department of Psychology, University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Peter Zill
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians University, 80336 Munich, Germany (H.-J.M.); (P.F.)
| | - Norbert Müller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians University, 80336 Munich, Germany (H.-J.M.); (P.F.)
| | - Thomas Meindl
- Department of Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Maximilian Reiser
- Department of Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Hans-Jürgen Möller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians University, 80336 Munich, Germany (H.-J.M.); (P.F.)
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians University, 80336 Munich, Germany (H.-J.M.); (P.F.)
| | - Martin Driessen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bielefeld, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Department of Psychology, University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Flechsig A, Bernheim D, Buchheim A, Domin M, Mentel R, Lotze M. One Year of Outpatient Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Its Impact on Neuronal Correlates of Attachment Representation in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder Using a Personalized fMRI Task. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1001. [PMID: 37508932 PMCID: PMC10377139 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13071001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: BPD is characterized by affect dysregulation, interpersonal problems, and disturbances in attachment, but neuroimaging studies investigating attachment representations in BPD are rare. No study has examined longitudinal neural changes associated with interventions targeting these impairments. (2) Methods: We aimed to address this gap by performing a longitudinal neuroimaging study on n = 26 patients with BPD treated with Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and n = 26 matched healthy controls (HCs; post intervention point: n = 18 BPD and n = 23 HCs). For functional imaging, we applied an attachment paradigm presenting attachment related scenes represented in drawings paired with related neutral or personalized sentences from one's own attachment narratives. In a prior cross-sectional investigation, we identified increased fMRI-activation in the human attachment network, in areas related to fear response and the conflict monitoring network in BPD patients. These were especially evident for scenes from the context of loneliness (monadic pictures paired with individual narrative sentences). Here, we tested whether these correlates of attachment representation show a near-to-normal development over one year of DBT intervention. In addition, we were interested in possible associations between fMRI-activation in these regions-of-interest (ROI) and clinical scores. (3) Results: Patients improved clinically, showing decreased symptoms of borderline personality organization (BPI) and increased self-directedness (Temperament and Character Inventory, TCI) over treatment. fMRI-activation was increased in the anterior medial cingulate cortex (aMCC) and left amygdala in BPD patients at baseline which was absent after intervention. When investigating associations between scores (BPI, TCI) and functional activation, we found significant effects in the bilateral amygdala. In contrast, aMCC activation at baseline was negatively associated with treatment outcome, indicating less effective treatment effects for those with higher aMCC activation at baseline. (4) Conclusions: Monadic attachment scenes with personalized sentences presented in an fMRI setup are capable of identifying increased activation magnitude in BPD. After successful DBT treatment, these increased activations tend to normalize which could be interpreted as signs of a better capability to regulate intensive emotions in the context of "social pain" towards a more organized/secure attachment representation. Amygdala activation, however, indicates high correlations with pre-treatment scores; activation in the aMCC is predictive for treatment gain. Functional activation of the amygdala and the aMCC as a response to attachment scenes representing loneness at baseline might be relevant influencing factors for DBT-intervention outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Flechsig
- Functional Imaging Unit, Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University of Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Dorothee Bernheim
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm, 89075 Ulm, Germany
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Martin Domin
- Functional Imaging Unit, Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University of Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Renate Mentel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Martin Lotze
- Functional Imaging Unit, Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University of Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
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Eilert DW, Buchheim A. Attachment-Related Differences in Emotion Regulation in Adults: A Systematic Review on Attachment Representations. Brain Sci 2023; 13:884. [PMID: 37371364 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increase in the prevalence of mental disorders connected with affective dysregulation and insecure attachment. Therefore, it is even more important to understand the interplay between an individual's attachment representation and patterns of emotion regulation. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to examine this association. PsycInfo, PsyArticles, and PubMed were searched for studies that examined attachment-related differences in emotion regulation in adults. To examine the unconscious attachment representation, only studies using the Adult Attachment Interview or the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System were included. Thirty-seven peer-reviewed studies (with a total of 2006 subjects) matched the PICO criteria. Emotion regulation was measured via four objective approaches: autonomic nervous system, brain activity, biochemistry, or nonverbal behavior. Across all measurements, results reveal a significant correlation between attachment representation and emotion regulation. Secure attachment correlates consistently with balanced emotion regulation, whereas it is impaired in insecure and dysfunctional in unresolved attachment. Specifically, unresolved individuals display counterintuitive responses and fail to use attachment as a resource. Insecure-dismissing attachment is associated with an emotionally deactivating strategy, while on a physiological, biochemical, and nonverbal level, emotional stress is still present. There is still a lack of studies examining preoccupied individuals. In addition to interpreting the results, we also discuss the risk of bias, implications for psychotherapy and coaching, and an outlook for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk W Eilert
- Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Improving treatment outcomes for borderline personality disorder: what can we learn from biomarker studies of psychotherapy? Curr Opin Psychiatry 2023; 36:67-74. [PMID: 36017562 DOI: 10.1097/yco.0000000000000820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe and common psychiatric disorder and though evidence-based psychotherapies are effective, rates of treatment nonresponse are as high as 50%. Treatment studies may benefit from interdisciplinary approaches from neuroscience and genetics research that could generate novel insights into treatment mechanisms and tailoring interventions to the individual. RECENT FINDINGS We provide a timely update to the small but growing body of literature investigating neurobiological and epigenetic changes and using biomarkers to predict outcomes from evidence-based psychotherapies for BPD. Using a rapid review methodology, we identified eight new studies, updating our earlier 2018 systematic review. Across all studies, neuroimaging ( n = 18) and genetics studies ( n = 4) provide data from 735 participants diagnosed with BPD (mean sample size across studies = 33.4, range 2-115). SUMMARY We report further evidence for psychotherapy-related alterations of neural activation and connectivity in regions and networks relating to executive control, emotion regulation, and self/interpersonal functioning in BPD. Emerging evidence also shows epigenetic changes following treatment. Future large-scale multisite studies may help to delineate multilevel treatment targets to inform intervention design, selection, and monitoring for the individual patient via integration of knowledge generated through clinical, neuroscience, and genetics research.
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