Differences in Cerebral Blood Perfusion with Individuals Diagnosed with Cluster B Personality Disorders

Author(s)

D'anna Sydow, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Daniel Amen, Amen Clinics
Kristen Willeumier, Amen Clinics
Brittny Arias, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Bailey McDonald, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Zachary Peart, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Samantha Spagna, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Poster

Publication Title

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology

ISSN

0887-6177

Publication Date

9-2021

Abstract

Objective

To identify regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) differences between individuals with DSM-IV diagnosis of Cluster B Personality Disorders (PDB) and healthy controls.

Method

Healthy controls (n = 81, Mage = 41.9, 53.0% female, 42.0% Caucasian) and persons diagnosed by psychiatric examination with PDB (n=, Mage = 34.12, 71.5% female, 69.8% Caucasian) were selected from a deidentified adult clinical outpatient database. Those with comorbid diagnoses were included. Significant differences (alpha = 0.005) were found for age [t(195) = −3.62], gender [χ2(2) = 7.1], and race [χ2(12) = 23.82] between groups. Mean age [t(523) = 2.09, p = 0.037) and gender [t(532) = −2.653, p = 0.008] different significantly between groups. No significant mean difference was found for education [t(523) = 0.832, p = 0.406].

Results

Significant rCBF differences were noted in the cerebellum [left:F(1,192) = 10.5; right:F(1,192) = 4.6], limbic system [left:F(1,192) = 7.8; right:F(1,192) = 5.0], and basal ganglia [left:F(1,192) = 12.3; right:F(1,192) = 6.7]. Group means comparisons indicated higher perfusion in the cerebellum for the PDB group. Lower perfusion was found in the limbic system and basal ganglia in the PDB group.

Conclusion

Results observed in this study are concurrent with previous literature. PDB demonstrates higher activity in the cerebellum which contains inhibitory neurotransmitters, like Purkinje cells. The increased blood flow to cerebellar circuits may be related to the explicit self-recognition of negative emotion reported in PDB. Hypoperfusion found in the limbic system could be linked to impaired emotional responses. Apathy experienced in PDB may be accounted for by the low perfusion in the highly dopaminergic pathway in the basal ganglia. Further research should assess how different comorbidities with PDB affect perfusion.

DOI

10.1093/arclin/acab062.103

Volume

36

Issue

6

NSUWorks Citation

Sydow, D., Amen, D., Willeumier, K., Arias, B., McDonald, B., Peart, Z., Spagna, S. (2021). Differences in Cerebral Blood Perfusion with Individuals Diagnosed with Cluster B Personality Disorders. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 36(6).
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/1966