The association between neurocognitive functioning and clinical features of borderline personality disorder

Objective: To investigate the relationship between neurocognitive profiles and clinical manifestations of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Methods: Forty-five patients diagnosed with BPD and 35 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The BPD group was evaluated with the Borderline Personality Inventory for dissociative, impulsivity and suicidal dimensions. The Verbal Memory Processes Test and the Cambridge Neurophysiological Assessment Battery were administered to both the BPD and healthy control groups. Results: BPD patients differed from controls in sustained attention, facial emotion recognition, and deteriorated verbal memory function. A model consisting of the Dissociative Experiences Scale - Taxon (DES-T), motor impulsivity and Scale for Suicidal Behavior scores explained 52% of the variance in Borderline Personality Inventory scores. It was detected that motor impulsivity, decision-making and recognizing sadness may significantly predict DES-T scores, and response inhibition and facial emotion recognition scores may significantly predict impulsivity. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that the disassociation, impulsivity, and suicidality dimensions are sufficient to represent the clinical manifestations of BPD, that they are related to neurocognitive differences, and that they interact with clinical features.

Irritabilidad como síntoma transdiagnóstico / Irritability as a transdiagnostic Symptom

Resumen. La irritabilidad es un síntoma transdiagnóstico que atraviesa la barrera de las patologías internalizantes y externalizantes. Se define como un umbral bajo para experimentar la ira en respuesta a la frustración y es uno de los síntomas más comunes en niños y adolescentes. Las conductas relacionadas con la ira apropiadas para el desarrollo tienden a reflejar frustración en contextos esperados, mientras que la irritabilidad crónica es inapropiada para la situación. La presentación de la irritabilidad, crónica o episódica, es crucial para comprender su significado psicopatológico, en particular porque las estructuras de la irritabilidad episódica y crónica son separables y permanecen estables a lo largo del tiempo. Existen varios estudios acerca de la irritabilidad en patologías como trastorno afectivo bipolar y trastorno de desregulación disruptiva del estado del ánimo, en ambos casos es importante plantearse como punto de partida la identificación de la episodicidad. La irritabilidad también se encuentra presente en el trastorno de personalidad límite observándose dentro de una inestabilidad afectiva debida a una reactividad notable del estado de ánimo. Estas emociones tienen un correlato anatómico relacionado con deficiencias de los circuitos frontolímbicos. Para el manejo de la irritabilidad en las distintas patologías, la evidencia del tratamiento incluye terapia cognitivo conductual, intervención de los padres, mindfulness, pero existe una necesidad apremiante de investigación sobre el tratamiento farmacológico complementario.

Irritability is a transdiagnostic symptom that crosses the barrier between internalizing and externalizing pathologies. It is defined as a low threshold to experience anger in response to frustration and it is one of the most common symptoms in children and adolescents. Behaviors related to appropriate developmental anger tend to reflect frustration in expected contexts, while chronic irritability is inappropriate to the situation. The presentation of irritability, chronic or episodic, is crucial to understanding its psychopathological meaning, particularly because the structures of episodic and chronic irritability are separable and remain stable over time. There are several studies about irritability in pathologies such as bipolar affective disorder and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, in both cases it is important to consider the identification of episodicity as a starting point. Irritability is also present in borderline personality disorder, where it is expressed as an affective instability due to a remarkable reactivity of the state of mind. These emotions have been anatomically related to deficiencies of the frontolimbic circuits. For the management of irritability in different patholo-gies, the evidence includes cognitive behavioral therapy, parental intervention, mindfulness, but there still is a pressing need for research on complementary pharmacological treatment.

Dependency, mood instability, and inconsequence traits for discriminating borderline personality disorder / Traços de dependência, instabilidade de humor e inconsequência para discriminação do transtorno da personalidade borderline

Abstract Introduction Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one of the most widely studied personality disorders (PDs). It recurrently shows traits of emotional lability, anxiety, separation insecurity, depressiveness, impulsiveness, risk exposure, and hostility, mainly affecting the domains of negative affectivity and antagonism. Objectives To investigate the most discriminant dimensions of the Dimensional Clinical Personality Inventory (Inventário Dimensional Clínico da Personalidade 2 [IDCP-2]) to distinguish people diagnosed with BPD from people without this diagnosis. Methods A total of 305 participants were included in this study: psychiatric outpatients diagnosed with BPD (n = 30), psychiatric outpatients diagnosed with other PDs (n = 75), and a community sample (n = 200). BPD traits were assessed using the dependency, mood instability, and inconsequence dimensions of the IDCP-2. Results Analysis of variance (ANOVA) comparisons indicated highest mean measures in the BPD group, and mood instability factors were the most discriminant ones when considering all groups. Applying the multiple regression analysis, we found an adjusted r 2 = 0.50, and hopelessness was the most predictive measure (β = 0.32; t = 6.19; p < 0.001). Conclusions We found discriminatory capacity for factors of all dimensions, although at different levels, and more consistent results to discriminate the BPD group from the community sample.

Resumo Introdução O transtorno da personalidade borderline (TPB) tem sido um dos transtornos de personalidade (TPs) mais estudados. O TPB recorrentemente apresenta traços de instabilidade emocional, ansiedade, insegurança de separação, depressividade, impulsividade, exposição ao risco e hostilidade, afetando principalmente os domínios relacionados à afetividade negativa e ao antagonismo. Objetivos Investigar as dimensões mais discriminativas do Inventário Dimensional Clínico da Personalidade 2 (IDCP-2) para distinguir pessoas diagnosticadas com TPB de pessoas sem esse diagnóstico. Métodos Foram incluídos no estudo 305 participantes: pacientes psiquiátricos com TPB (n = 30), pacientes psiquiátricos com outros TPs (n = 75) e amostra da população geral (n = 200). Os traços de TPB foram avaliados utilizando as dimensões dependência, instabilidade de humor e inconsequência do IDCP-2. Resultados As comparações com análise de variância (ANOVA) indicaram que o grupo TPB apresentou as maiores médias, e os fatores da dimensão instabilidade de humor foram os mais discriminativos ao se comparar os três grupos. Usando a análise de regressão múltipla, foi encontrado um r 2 ajustado = 0,50, e o fator desesperança foi o mais preditivo (β = 0,32; t = 6,19; p < 0,001). Conclusões Foi encontrada capacidade discriminativa para fatores de todas as dimensões, embora em diferentes níveis, e resultados mais consistentes quanto à discriminação foram observados para a distinção entre o grupo com TPB e a população geral.

Borderline personality disorder: an adaptation of the Taiwan short version of the screening inventory into Brazilian Portuguese / Transtorno de personalidade borderline: uma adaptação para o português brasileiro do inventário de rastreamento de Taiwan em sua forma reduzida

Abstract Objective The current study presents the translation and adaptation of the 20-item Taiwan version of the Borderline Personality Inventory (BPI) into Brazilian Portuguese (BPI-P). Methods After translation and back-translation, the Brazilian Portuguese version was administered to three samples: patients with borderline personality disorder, psychiatric patients with comorbid substance use disorder and volunteers with no reported mental disorders. Results Significant differences between groups for borderline scores (analysis of variance [ANOVA], F = 52.923, p = 0.01) were found but there were no significant correlations between scores for borderline personality disorder and alcohol or nicotine dependence. The BPI-P had satisfactory validity for borderline personality disorder, even when anxiety and depression were present, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.931 at a cutoff point of 14. Conclusion This study provides support for the potential utility of the BPI-P as a screening instrument for clinical practice in Portuguese speaking countries, including outpatients with alcohol and nicotine use disorders in early or sustained remission.

Resumo Objetivo Este estudo apresenta a tradução e adaptação do Inventário de Taiwan para Transtorno de Personalidade Borderline (IPB) de 20 itens, para o português brasileiro (IPB-P). Métodos Após tradução e retrotradução, a versão em português brasileiro foi aplicada em três amostras: pacientes com transtorno de personalidade borderline, pacientes psiquiátricos com comorbidade de transtorno de uso de substâncias e voluntários sem transtornos mentais relatados. Resultados Diferenças significantes entre os grupos em relação aos graus para borderline (análise de variância [ANOVA], F = 52,923, p = 0,01) foram encontradas mas não houve correlações significantes entre as pontuações para transtorno de personalidade borderline e dependência de álcool ou nicotina. O IPB-P teve uma validade satisfatória para transtorno de personalidade borderline mesmo quando ansiedade e depressão estavam presentes, com uma área sob a ROC (receiver operating characteristic curve) de 0,931 no ponto de corte de 14. Conclusão Este estudo dá suporte para a utilidade potencial do IPB-P como um instrumento de rastreamento para a prática clínica em países de língua portuguesa, incluindo pacientes ambulatoriais com transtorno de uso de álcool e nicotina em remissão precoce ou sustentada.

Entre lo pseudoneurótico y lo limítrofe / Among the pseudo-neurotic and the borderline

El término Pseudoneurótico recogería el problema de la interface fenomenológica entre psicosis y neurosis. Acuñan este término para tratar de especificar un cuadro psicopatológico caracterizado por exhibir manifestaciones clínicas pan-neuróticas, pan-sexuales y pan-ansiosas, enmascarando síntomas de una real esquizofrenia. Los fenómenos psicóticos serían sutiles y breves y en ocasiones se sufriría de episodios psicóticos intensos diurnos o nocturnos tales como pesadillas que se continúan con alucinaciones. La esquizofrenia Pseudoneurótica, junto con los conceptos de demencia precoz atenuada, esquizofrenia latente, esquizofrenia ambulatoria, estructura de personalidad pre esquizofrénica y esquizofrenia límite, se reclutaron en la noción de personalidad límite.

The term Pseudoneurotic would pick up the problem of the phenomenological interface between psychosis and neurosis. This term was coined trying to specify a psychopathological disorder characterized by exhibiting pan-neurotic, pan-sexual and pan-anxious clinical manifestations, masking symptoms of a real schizophrenia. Pseudoneurotic schizophrenia, together with the concepts of attenuated early dementia, latent schizophrenia, ambulatory schizophrenia, preschizophrenic personality structure and borderline schizophrenia, were recruited into the notion of borderline personality.

Transtornos da personalidade / Personality disorders

RESUMO Os Transtornos da personalidade são padrões psicológicos de difícil diagnóstico que exigem uma avaliação criteriosa por parte do profissional da saúde mental. A relação médico-paciente também se configura como fator de extrema importância para o manejo destes quadros. Dentro deste contexto, é imprescindível orientar os alunos das áreas de graduação em saúde sobre a existência de tal categoria de transtornos. O presente artigo consiste em uma revisão descritiva, que busca elucidar a definição de transtornos da personalidade; além de discorrer sobre aspectos históricos, nosológicos e epidemiológicos. Nesta publicação ainda serão revisadas as particularidades referentes ao diagnóstico, as comorbidades, ao curso e tratamento destes transtornos. O enfoque maior será no manejo de indivíduos com transtorno da personalidade borderline, dada a maior procura destes por unidades de atendimento psiquiátrico.(AU)

Personality disorders are psychological patterns of difficult diagnosis that require careful evaluations from mental health professionals. The physician-patient relationship is a crucial condition for the management of these disorders. On this view it must be important guide undergraduate students from health care areas through the existence of such a category of disorders. This article consists of a descriptive review aiming at clarifying the definition of personality disorders; furthermore discuss historical, physiological and epidemiological aspects. On this publication will be reviewed some particularities from diagnostic comorbidity, course and treatment of these disorders. The management of individuals with borderline personality disorder will be emphasized in this publication due to increased seek from this public for mental health care units. (AU)

Factor structure and psychometric properties of the Dispositional Resilience Scale among Brazilian adult patients / Estrutura fatorial e propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Resiliência Disposicional para pacientes brasileiros adultos

ABSTRACT Objective Verifying the psychometrics of a Brazilian version of the Dispositional Resilience Scale (DRS-15). Methods Cross-cultural adaptation was done interviewing 65 adult patients. Validation was evaluated by application of the Lipp Brazilian Stress Symptoms Inventory (ISSL), Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ), and other measures to 575 participants from the psychiatric ambulatories (for borderline personality, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorders) and non-psychiatric ambulatories (chronic pain, pre-anesthetic consultation and companions for the latter). Temporal stability was verified with 123 participants. Results Exploratory factor analysis yielded a three-factor solution. Psychometrics were acceptable (alpha coefficient, 0.71; intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.81). Correlations with the ISSL, SRQ and other measures were noted except for factor 3. In the psychiatric sample, hardiness scores of borderline patients were lower than those of patients with anxiety disorders. Conclusion This version of the DRS-15 exhibited good reliability in a sample of Brazilian patients; validity was confirmed in two of the scale factors.

RESUMO Objetivo Verificar as propriedades psicométricas da versão brasileira da Escala de Resiliência Disposicional (DRS-15). Métodos A adaptação transcultural foi feita com 65 pacientes. A validação foi estudada pela aplicação do Inventário de Sintomas de Stress para Adultos de Lipp (ISSL), Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ) e outros instrumentos a 575 participantes de ambulatórios psiquiátricos (transtorno borderline de personalidade, ansiedade ou transtorno de estresse pós-traumático) e não-psiquiátricos (dor crônica, avaliação pré-anestésica ou acompanhantes). A estabilidade foi verificada com 123 participantes. Resultados A análise exploratória revelou três fatores, com propriedades aceitáveis (alfa de 0,71; coeficiente de correlação intraclasse de 0,81). Notaram-se correlações com o ISSL, SRQ e demais instrumentos, exceto para o fator 3. Na amostra psiquiátrica, a resiliência disposicional dos pacientes borderlines foi menor que a dos pacientes com transtornos de ansiedade. Conclusão Esta versão da DRS-15 apresentou boa confiabilidade numa amostra de adultos; a validade foi confirmada para dois fatores da escala.

Sintomas de TEPT e trauma na infância em pacientes com transtorno da personalidade bordeline / Symptoms of ptsd and trauma in childhood in patients with borderline personality disorder / Síntomas de tept y trauma en la infancia en pacientes con trastorno límite de la personalidad

O transtorno da personalidade borderline (TPB) é o mais prevalente dentre todos os transtornos da personalidade, apresentando um percentual de 5,9% na população geral. O transtorno tem um impacto enorme na vida dos sujeitos, por isso a comunidade científica está voltada a estudar elementos relacionados a essa psicopatologia. Tendo isso em vista, os objetivos deste artigo foram: investigar a presença de sintomatologia pós-traumática e o histórico de trauma na infância em sujeitos com TPB. Para isso, foi realizado um estudo transversal, de caráter exploratório. Dessa forma, 22 sujeitos com diagnóstico de TPB preencheram um instrumento de rastreio para avaliar sintomas de TEPT. Foi encontrado que os pacientes com TPB apresentam diversos sintomas de TEPT, como dificuldade de concentração, lembranças intrusivas, tensão ao relembrar e evitação de lembranças.

The borderline personality disorder (BPD) is the most prevalent of all diagnostic personality disorders, presenting a percentage of 5.9% in the general population. The disorder has a huge impact in the life of the individuals, for this reason the scientific community is studying the relation elements of this psychopathology. The study’s purpose was to investigate the presence of posttraumatic symptomatology and history of childhood trauma. The work’s delineation was a transversal study with exploratory character. For these 22 borderline patients completed a screening task in order to evaluate symptoms of PTSD. It was found that the borderline patients presented several symptoms of PTSD, such as: difficulty in concentration, intrusive memories, tension in remembering and avoidance of memories.

El trastorno límite de la personalidad (TLP) es el más frecuente entre todos los trastornos de la personalidad, presentando un porcentaje de 5,9% en la población general. El trastorno tiene un gran impacto en la vida de los individuos, es por esto que la comunidad científica está dedicada a estudiar elementos relacionados con esta psicopatología. Considerando esto, los objetivos del presente artículo fueron: investigar la presencia de sintomatología post-traumática y el historial de trauma en la infancia de personas con TLP. Para esto, se realizó un estudio transversal con carácter exploratorio. De esa manera, 22 personas con TLP respondieron un formulario de acompañamiento para evaluar los síntomas de TEPT. Se encontró que los pacientes con TLP tienen muchos síntomas de TEPT, tales como: dificultad para concentrarse, recuerdos intrusivos, tensión al recordar y evitar recuerdos.

investigation of construct validity of diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder-5 personality traits on Iranian sample with antisocial and borderline personality disorders

The goal of this study was to examine the construct validity of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder-5 [DSM-5] conceptual model of antisocial and borderline personality disorders [PDs]. More specifically, the aim was to determine whether the DSM-5 five-factor structure of pathological personality trait domains replicated in an independently collected sample that differs culturally from the derivation sample. This study was on a sample of 346 individuals with antisocial [n = 122] and borderline PD [n = 130], and nonclinical subjects [n = 94]. Participants randomly selected from prisoners, out-patient, and in-patient clients. Participants were recruited from Tehran prisoners, and clinical psychology and psychiatry clinics of Razi and Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The SCID-II-PQ, SCID-II, DSM-5 Personality Trait Rating Form [Clinician's PTRF] were used to diagnosis of PD and to assessment of pathological traits. The data were analyzed by exploratory factor analysis. Factor analysis revealed a 5-factor solution for DSM-5 personality traits. Results showed that DSM-5 has adequate construct validity in Iranian sample with antisocial and borderline PDs. Factors similar in number with the other studies, but different in the content. Exploratory factor analysis revealed five homogeneous components of antisocial and borderline PDs. That may represent personality, behavioral, and affective features central to the disorder. Furthermore, the present study helps understand the adequacy of DSM-5 dimensional approach to evaluation of personality pathology, specifically on Iranian sample

Intento suicida y antecedente de experiencias traum ticas durante la infancia en adultos con diagn¢stico de depresi¢n, trastorno de personalidad lim¡trofe o esquizofrenia / Suicide attempt and history of childhood traumatic experiences in adults with depression, borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia

La historia de experiencias traumáticas en la infancia ha sido asociada con el desarrollo de psicopatología en lapoblación adulta, no solamente con el incremento de riesgo para trastornos psiquiátricos, sino también con laocurrencia de posteriores intentos suicidas y peor pronóstico en el curso de la enfermedad. Objetivos: Determinar la relación entre el antecedente de trauma infantil y el posterior intento suicida en pacientes adultos con diagnóstico de depresión, trastorno de personalidad limítrofe o esquizofrenia. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo correlacional aplicando un muestreo secuencial. Los autores recogieron los datos de los pacientes del consultorio externo de adultos del Instituto Nacional de Salud Mental “Honorio Delgado- Hideyo Noguchi” durante los meses de febrero y marzo del año 2013. A dichos sujetos se les aplicó la ficha de recolección de datos y la Escala de Trauma de Marshall, que evalúa la historia de eventos traumáticos. Resultados: Se entrevistaron 200 pacientes, el 76% de ellos de sexo femenino. Los pacientes con personalidad limítrofe presentaron mayor proporción de intentos suicidas (83,1%), seguidos de aquellos con diagnóstico de depresión (43,1%) y esquizofrenia (20,6%). Se observó una elevada prevalencia de politrauma (más de tres eventos traumáticos) en todos los pacientes, encabezados por aquellos con personalidad limítrofe. Conclusiones: Existe una mayor frecuencia de trauma infantil en pacientes con trastorno de personalidad limítrofe en comparación con depresión y esquizofrenia; además existe el doble de probabilidad de cometer intento suicida entre aquellos pacientes que presentaron tres o más eventos traumáticos respecto a aquellos sin dicho antecedente

The history of childhood trauma is a reality that has become more important due to its association with the development of psychopathologies in adulthood; in fact this trauma not only relates to the increased risk of psychological disorders but it also impacts the prevalence of potential suicide attempts and the progression of the illness. Objective: To determine the relationship between the precursor of childhood trauma and potential suicide attempt in patients with depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder, or schizophrenia. Material and Methods: A correlational descriptive study was performed using sequential sampling. The authors collected data from patients in the outpatient adult clinic in the National Institute of Mental Health “Honorio Delgado-Hideyo Noguchi” during the months of February and March of 2013. Adult individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, depressive disorder or borderline personality disorder were identified. These subjects were asked to fill out a data collection form and the Marshall Trauma Scale, which evaluates the history of traumatic events. Results: We interviewed 200 patients: 76% of them were female. The patients with borderline personality disorder had a higher proportion of suicide attempts (83.1%), followed by those with a diagnosis of depression (43.1%) and schizophrenia (20.6%), but borderline patients also had a higher absolute number of suicide attempts. There was a high prevalence of polytrauma (more than three traumatic events) in all patients, higher in those with borderline personality disorder. Conclusions: There is a higher frequency of childhood trauma in patients with borderline personality disorder compared to depression and schizophrenia, but there is also twice probability to commit suicide attempt among those patients who had three or more traumatic events than those without such a history.

Prazer e realidade no mundo contemporâneo: a (des)construção do humano / Placer y realidad en el mundo contemporáneo: la (des)construcción de lo humano / Pleasure and reality in the contemporary world the (de)construction of the human being

A partir da análise do contemporâneo que nos habita, o autor faz uma descrição da construção da subjetividade pós-moderna e das patologias próprias desse nosso tempo. Com base em autores psicanalíticos, busca traçar não só a importância do espaço analítico como também a sua contribuição para a construção de uma compreensão psicanalítica dos pacientes atuais. Neles o paradigma clássico está baseado na díade desprazer-prazer, é desafiado por sintomas que se desgarram do simbólico e só podem ser apreendidos dentro de uma nova postura psicanalítica, cujos resultados têm se mostrado alvissareiros. Ao estudar trabalhos de autores que abordaram a patologia borderline, o autor propõe algumas opções terapêuticas, especialmente para os pacientes mais graves, cujo atendimento demanda, muitas vezes, uma alteração do enfoque psicanalítico clássico.

Having as a starting point the analysis of the contemporary world which inhabits us, the author describes the construction of post modem subjectivity and the diseases pertinent to our time. Based on psychoanalytic authors, tries to delineate not only the importance of the analytic space but also its contribution for the construction of a psychoanalytic understanding of the patients of these times. On these patients the classic paradigm is based on the dyad displeasure-pleasure, challenged by symptoms afar from the symbolic and can only be apprehended within a new psychoanalytical stance, the results of it so far having proved promising. On studying the work of authors who approached borderline disorder, the author proposes some therapeutic options, especially for the more diseased patients, their care demanding, often times, a change in the classic psychoanalytic technique.

A partir del análisis de lo contemporáneo que nos habita, el autor describe la construcción de la subjetividad post moderna y de las patologías propias de esta época. Con base en autores psicoanalíticos, busca trazar no solamente la importancia del espacio analítico, sino también su contribución para la construcción de una comprensión psicoanalítica de los pacientes actuales. En ellos, el paradigma clásico basado en desplacer-placer, es desafiado por síntomas que se desgarran de lo simbólico y solamente se pueden aprehender dentro de una nueva postura psicoanalítica, cuyos resultados se han mostrado promisores. Al estudiar trabajos de autores que enfocaron la patología borderline, el autorpropone algunas opciones terapéuticas, especialmente para los pacientes más graves, cuyo tratamiento demanda, muchas veces, una alteración del enfoque psicoanalítico clásico.

Ensino da psicoterapia no atendimento psiquiátrico dos pacientes com transtorno de personalidade borderline / Teaching of psychotherapy in psychiatric treatment of patients with borderline personality disorder

Este artigo apresenta uma revisão da literatura produzida por Otto Kernberg sobre a abordagem psicoterápica do paciente com transtorno de personalidade borderline que foi utilizada no curso de Psicoterapia oferecido aos médicos residentes no Instituto de Psiquiatria da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Responde a demanda produzida pelos alunos, médicos cursando residência em psiquiatria, por dificuldades no manejo dos fenômenos transferenciais de tais pacientes. Utilizou no trabalho de revisão um recorte teórico que privilegiou a compreensão da técnica denominada Psicoterapia Expressiva. O conhecimento sobre a utilização da interpretação no aqui e agora da relação terapêutica se apresentou como intervenção principal em relação aos fenômenos transferenciais característicos do atendimento psicoterápico de tais pacientes.

This article presents a literature review of the works of Otto Kernberg on the psychotherapeutic approach of patients with a borderline personality disorder. This approach was used in a course of psychotherapy offered to students of the Institute of Psychiatry from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The study was undertaken to meet a demand related to difficulties of the students with the management of transference phenomena in patients with a borderline personality disorder. A theoretical approach was used in the study that privileged the understanding of the technique denominated Expressive Psychotherapy. Knowledge about the use of interpretation in the here and now of the therapeutic relationship revealed to be the main intervention in relation to transference phenomena characteristic of psychotherapeutic treatment of such patients.

Trastornos psicopatológicos e intentos de suicidio asistidos en la guardia de un hospital polivalente del conurbano bonaerense / Pychopathological disorders and suicide attempts assited in the ward of a plyclinic in the suburbs of the province of Buenos Aires

La conducta suicida es una situación de múltiples aristas en la que intervienen varios factores y que se enmarca dentro de las conductas agresivas. Este estudio fue efectuado a fin de acercarse a la comprensión de este angustiante cuadro. Objetivo: estudiar la caracterización de la conducta suicida en pacientes de ambos sexos concurrentes a la Guardia del Hospital "Dr. Alejandro Posadas" con motivo de un intento de suicidio. Material y Métodos: fueron examinados en la Guardia y en el Servicio de Psicopatología 230 personas por intento de suicidio, 200 ingresaron al estudio y 30 no pudieron hacerlo por no hallarse en condiciones. Se utilizaron tres formularios, de consentimiento informado, de la Guardia del Hospital y un tercero para ser llenado por el psiquiatra del Servicio. Se realizó una base de datos y el análisis estadístico utilizando el SPSS V 11. Resultados: se encontró una vinculación entre aquellos que realizaron un intento de suicidio y los diagnósticos de trastornos de personalidad borderline, histérica y los trastornos de ansiedad, bipolar y esquizofrenia. Facilitar el acceso a los pacientes a fin de realizar un diagnóstico y tratamiento precoces es una forma de evitar la conducta agresiva del intento de suicidio.

Suicide behavior is a disorder of multiple rough edges in which serveral factors are involved, which is framed within aggressive behaviors. This study was performed in order to obtain an insight into this distressing condition. Objective: To study the characterization of suicidal behavior in patients of both sexes attending the Ward of Hospital "Dr. Alejandro Posadas" due to a suicide attempt. Material and Methods: 230 people were examined in the Ward and in the Psychopathological Service due to a suicide attempt, 200 entered the study and 30 could not do so for not being eligible. Three informed consent forms were used, two belonging to the Hospital's Ward and the third one to be completed by the Service's Psychiatrist. A database was created, as well as the statistical analysis, by means of the software apllication, SPSS V 11. Results: a connection was found betweeen those patients who committed suicide and the diagnosos of borderline, histrionic personality disorders, and anxiety, bipolar and schizophrenia disorders. Facilitating access to patients in order to perform an early diagnosis and treatment is a way of avoiding the aggressive bahavior relative to the suicide attempt.

Trastorno Límite de la Personalidad: reino de mujeres, tierra sin hombres / Borderline personality disorder: kingdom of women, land without men

En la última década la literatura sobre la relación entre género y trastorno límite de la personalidad (TLP) generó mucha controversia y poca claridad. Recientemente, el TLP fue caracterizado como la "chica mala" de las etiquetas psiquiátricas (5); una acusación que implica una mayor utilización de este diagnóstico en las mujeres y un sesgo de género en la identificación de esta patología. El DSM IV establece que el trastorno límite de la personalidad se diagnostica predominantemente (75) en mujeres (10). La cuestión esencial a plantear entonces es si la mayor prevalencia en mujeres se debe a un sesgo en la muestra o en el diagnóstico o si reflejaría una diferencia biológica o sociocultural entre hombres y mujeres. El objetivo de este trabajo es mostrar y delinear algunas cuestiones sobre la aparente diferencia 3:1 entre mujeres y hombres con esta patología.

In the last decade, literature concerning gender and borderline personality disorder has aroused much controversy and little lightness. Recently, borderline personality disorder has been characterized as the "bad girl" of the psychiatric terms; this implies a bigger use of this diagnose in women and a biased gender in the identification of this disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders states that borderline persona lit y disorder is mostly diagnosed in women (75). The essential question to discuss is whether the larger prevalence in women is due to a biased sample or a biased diagnoses or it reflects a sociocultural and biological difference between men and women. The aim of this paper is to analyze some issues about the difference 3:1 women and men in this disorder.

Evaluación de las funciones ejecutivas, inteligencia e impulsividad en mujeres con trastorno límite de la personalidad (TLP) / Evaluation of executive functions, intelligence and impulsivity in women with borderline personality disorder

Las funciones neurocognitivas básicas como el control ejecutivo cognoscitivo representan un endofenotipo prometedor que puede mejorar el entendimiento del desarrollo y la expresión del TLP. Evaluamos la asociación entre el funcionamiento en una Batería de Funciones Ejecutivas y el TLP. Se estudió a 10 mujeres diagnosticadas con TLP a quienes por separado se les administró esta batería y fueron comparadas con un grupo control no clínico que constó de 10 sujetos. El desempeño en los participantes con TLP fue menor en la batería de Función Ejecutiva (U=18, p=0,015) y fueron más impulsivo que el grupo de control (U=21, p=0,28); por otra parte no hubo diferencias entre ambos grupos sobre la inteligencia (U=28, p=0,096). Los pacientes con TLP demostraron impedimentos significativos en la prueba de toma de decisiones y planeación lo que puede sugerir la disfunción del lóbulo frontal.

Basic neurocognitive functions such as executive cognitive control represent promising endophenotypes that may improve understanding of the development and expression of TLP. We evaluated the association between performance on a Battery of Executive Functions and the TLP psychopathology. 10 TLP-diagnosed women were evaluated with this battery and their results were compared with those of a non clinical control group, consisting of 10 subjects. It was found that TLP participants performed more poorly than controls in the Executive Function Battery (U=18, p=0,015) and were more impulsive than the control group (U=21, p=0,28); on the other hand, there were no differences between both groups in intelligence (U=28, p=0,096) It was concluded that patients with TLPexhibited significant impairments in test of decision-making and planning, suggesting frontal lobe dysfunction.

Adesão ao tratamento clínico no transtorno de personalidade borderline / Compliance in the treatment of borderline personality disorders

Adesão é um comportamento complexo, envolve desde pequenas recusas ao tratamento até o uso inadequado dos serviços de saúde e abandono do tratamento. O presente trabalho é um estudo qualitativo com seis pacientes com transtorno de personalidade borderline sobre adesão ao tratamento, utilizando análise qualitativa em entrevista aberta, questionário psicossocial, classificação diagnóstica pela SCID I e II e acompanhamento clínico. Os resultados mostraram que impulsividade, manipulação, dissociação afetiva, tentativa de suicídio, tendência à regressão e agressividade dificultaram ou impossibilitaram a adesão ao tratamento. Concluímos que os casos que abandonaram o tratamento colocaram a equipe em uma situação de impotência e apelo para estratégias sociais como forma de manejo da situação. É levantada a hipótese de que familiares saudáveis podem ser importantes para a adesão ao tratamento. Nos casos que não abandonaram o acompanhamento, a não-adesão se manifestou como ataques ao vínculo, ataques a melhora, e agressividade voltada à equipe e à instituição.

Compliance is a complex behavior, ranging from minor instances of treatment refusal to the inappropriate use of health services or even treatment abandonment. The study comprises a qualitative analysis of six patients with borderline personality disorder submitted to an open interview, a psychosocial questionnaire, a diagnostic classification through SCDI I and II and a clinical follow-up. Six behaviors made treatment compliance either difficult or impossible: impulsivity, manipulation, affective dissociation, attempted suicide, tendency to regression, and aggression. The participants who abandoned the treatment made the health team impotent, requiring social strategies to manage the situation. We hypothesized that healthy families are of great importance for compliance to treatment. For the cases in which treatment was not abandoned, non-compliance was manifested as attacks against the bonds and against the improvement, and aggression towards the health team and the institution.