SEROTONERGIC SENSITIVITY IN BORDERLINE PERSONALITY-DISORDER - PRELIMINARY FINDINGS

Twelve patients with borderline personality disorder and 15 healthy co mparison subjects were challenged with single doses of oral m-chloroph enylpiperazine (m-CPP) and placebo. Following m-CPP, the patients expe rienced decreased anger and fear. Seven of the 12 patients reported a ''spacy,'' ''high,'' depersonalized/derealixed experience following m- CPP, which was confirmed by clinicians' ratings. Compared with the nor mal male subjects, the male patients with borderline personality disor der had higher cortisol levels and marginally blunted prolactin respon ses after receiving m-CPP. These results suggest serotonergic dysfunct ion in borderline personality disorder.