Cognitive Reappraisal Training for Borderline Personality (BPD)

Previous work by the group convinced the researchers to pursue development of focused cognitive reappraisal training as a novel approach to treatment of BPD, either as stand-alone treatment or in concert with evidence-based treatments of BPD. The present proposal aims to refine and test a proposed clinical intervention for BPD patients, training in reappraisal-by-distancing, in terms of its ability to influence hypothesized neural and behavioral targets and, once that is established, to demonstrate its ability improve clinically relevant outcome measures.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Medically healthy men and women with Borderline Personality Disorder who are mentally competent and give informed voluntary written consent.

- Participants will be between the ages of 18 and 55.

- Within these requirements, the inclusion and exclusion criteria do not reflect participation based on gender or racial/ethnic group. The targeted/planned enrollment is a reflection of previous recruitment of female and ethnic minorities in other studies conducted by the PI and their colleagues and includes representations of both genders and all minorities.

- Participants with comorbid avoidant personality disorder will be included.

- Participants who meet criteria for PTSD will be included as long as they are not actively experiencing symptoms.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Participants will not meet criteria for Schizotypal Personality Disorder.

- Participants currently meeting criteria for Major Depressive Disorder will be excluded.

- BPD participants will not meet DSM-5 criteria for present PTSD, bipolar I disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, substance use disorder within the past 6 months, organic mental syndromes, head trauma, schizotypal personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder, CNS neurological disease, or seizure disorder. Participants meeting criteria for a non-IV substance use disorder more than 6 months prior to enrollment will not be excluded. This study allows patients who are currently taking psychotropic medications or are in psychotherapy, so long as there has been no change in medication or psychotherapy over the preceding two months.

- Participants currently meeting criteria for major depressive disorder.

- Participants meeting criteria for substance use disorder within the last 6 months or of an IV-substance use disorder at any time.

- Participants may not have a pacemaker, surgical clips, any metallic implants, or shrapnel fragments that would contraindicate MRI scanning.

- Pregnant women.

Conditions:
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Emotional Regulation