Emotional responses in patients with borderline as compared with avoidant personality disorder

The aim of this study was to assess psychophysiological affect correlates, in addition to the usual self-report in borderline personality disorder (BP D) compared with avoidant personality disorder (APD) and normal controls (N Cs), when responding to standardized experimental stimuli. In 24 BPD female patients, 23 APD female patients, and 27 female NCs, skin conductance resp onse (SCR), heart rate (HR) change, and startle response were recorded whil e the subjects viewed slides with emotional content. Neither the self-repor t nor the psychophysiological data supported the hypothesis that affective responses of BPD individuals are generally stronger than those with APD. BP D patients showed no potentiation of the affective modulation of the startl e reflex and their electrodermal reactivity was lower than in either the AP D subjects or the NCs. The hypothesis of a general affective hyperresponsiv ity could not be confirmed. Low somatic arousal in BPD can interfere with t he anticipation of signal stimuli and may explain the exaggerated openness borderline personalities show to stimuli, particularly in interpersonal sit uations.