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Cited by 88Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorPersonality Disorders and PsychopathologyAttachment and Relationship Dynamics

Lower Oxytocin Plasma Levels in Borderline Patients with Unresolved Attachment Representations

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Jobst, Andrea, Padberg, Frank, Mauer, Maria-Christine, Daltrozzo, Tanja, Bauriedl-Schmidt, Christine, Sabass, Lena, Sarubin, Nina, Falkai, Peter +4 more·2016·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
DOI 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00125PMC PMC4811864
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Abstract

Interpersonal problems and affective dysregulation are core characteristics of borderline personality disorder (BPD). BPD patients predominantly show unresolved attachment representations. The oxytocin (OT) system is associated with human social attachment and affiliative behavior, and OT dysregulation may be related to distinct attachment characteristics. Here, we investigated whether attachment representations are related to peripheral OT levels in BPD patients. Twenty-one female BPD patients and 20 age-, gender-, and education-matched healthy controls (HCs) were assessed with clinical scales and measures of interpersonal and attachment-related characteristics, including the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP). Plasma OT concentrations were measured prior to and during social exclusion in a virtual ball tossing game (Cyberball). The majority of BPD patients (63.2%) but no HCs showed unresolved (disorganized) attachment representations. In this subgroup of patients, baseline OT plasma levels were significantly lower than in BPD patients with organized attachment representations. This pilot study extends previous findings of altered OT regulation in BPD as a putative key mechanism underlying interpersonal dysregulation. Our results provide first evidence that altered OT plasma levels are related to disorganized attachment representations in BPD patients.

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Authors
Jobst, A., Padberg, F., Mauer, M.-C., Daltrozzo, T., Bauriedl-Schmidt, C., Sabass, L., Sarubin, N., Falkai, P., Renneberg, B., Zill, P., Gander, M., & Buchheim, A.
Affiliations
  • Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
  • Freie Universität Berlin (DE)
  • Universität Innsbruck (AT)
Corresponding author
Buchheim, Anna
ORCID
Venue
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2016-03-30
Volume
10
Pages
125-125
ISSN
1662-5161 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fnhum.2016.00125
PMC
PMC4811864
OpenAlex
W2320889926
Cited by
88
References
76
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 5
FWCI
13.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Open access LMU (Ludwid Maxmilian's Universitat Munchen) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Open access LMU (Ludwid Maxmilian's Universitat Munchen) (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
  • Refubium (Universitätsbibliothek der Freien Universität Berlin) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Universitätsbibliothek der FU Berlin Hochschulschriftenstelle u. Dokumentenserver (cc-by)
Funders
  • Eli Lilly and Company
  • BrainsWay
  • H. Lundbeck A/S
  • Cilag
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Keywords
borderline personality disorder, oxytocin, plasma oxytocin, attachment representations, disorganized attachment, interpersonal problems, emotional dysregulation, social exclusion, Cyberball, Adult Attachment Projective Picture System

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