Neurobiology of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder (APD)

Abstract

Affective disorders and personality disorders are associated with a combination of (1.) genetic polymorphisms predominantly affecting the serotonin system and the HPA (stress) axis, (2.) deficits in brain development, (3.) early adverse (traumatising) childhood experiences and (4.) later (adolescent) adverse experiences. Neurobiological studies have revealed structural and functional deficits especially in limbic and paralimbic brain areas, as well as their interaction between each other and interactions with cognitive-executive brain regions. On the basis of this general assumption, the following review is about experimental-empirical studies concerning the possible neurobiological background of personality disorders, particularly borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder (APD)/psychopathy (PP).