C. Di Maggio, Italy

Sapienza University of Rome Department of Human Neuroscience, Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry

Presenter of 1 Presentation

Oral Communications (ID 1110) AS28. Personality and Personality Disorders

O202 - Triple Network in adolescents with Borderline Personality Disorder, early traumatic experiences and dissociative symptoms: an eLORETA study.

Date
Sat, 10.04.2021
Session Time
07:00 - 21:00
Room
On Demand
Lecture Time
13:24 - 13:36

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Triple Network Model (TNM), which considers the dynamic interaction between Default Mode (DMN), Salience (SN), and Central Executive (CEN) networks, explains clinical features in mental disorders from a neurophysiological perspective. Some studies highlight the increased connectivity in TNM in adults with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but little is known about adolescents.

Objectives

The aim of our preliminary study was to investigate TN functional connectivity (FC) in BPD adolescents with a history of traumatic experiences, and its correlation with dissociative symptoms.

Methods

15 BPD adolescents (DSM-5 criteria) with early traumatic experiences were compared to 15 healthy controls, matched for sex and age. Dissociation Questionnaire (DIS-Q) was administered. Eyes-closed resting-state (RS) EEG recordings were performed (19 electrodes; 10- 20 system) and analyzed using Exact Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography software (eLORETA). FC was computed for all frequency bands and 9 Regions of Interest for TNM.

Results

BPD adolescents showed a hyper-connection between CEN and DMN [dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC); PCC and left posterior parietal cortex (PPC)] and within the CEN (left and right PPC). The strength of PCC-dlPFC and left-right PPC connections was correlated with dissociative symptoms severity.

Conclusions

FC alterations can already be identified in BPD adolescents, supporting the need for early diagnosis.

Normally DMN and CEN show opposite functioning. In our BPD adolescents, the absence of this "anti-correlation" reflects the typical confusion between internal and external mental states, which clarify their difficulties in metacognition or mentalization. Moreover, in dissociative symptoms, two CEN nodes are also involved, not only DMN as previously described.

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