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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03636139

Cognitive Control of Negative Stimuli in BPD

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by impairments in the cognitive control of negative information. These impairments in cognitive control are presumably due to blunted activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) along with enhanced activations of the limbic system. However, the impact of an excitatory stimulation of the dlPFC still needs to be elucidated. In the present study, we therefore assigned 50 patients with BPD and 50 healthy controls to receive either anodal or sham stimulation of the right dlPFC in a double-blind, randomized, between-subjects design.

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Key information

Conditions

Borderline Personality Disorder Mental Disorders Personality Disorders

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Borderline Personality Disorder:

  • Diagnosis of borderline personality disorder

Exclusion criteria

Borderline Personality Disorder:

  • Diagnosis of current or previous bipolar disorder
  • Diagnosis of current substance dependency
  • Diagnosis of current major depression
  • Diagnosis of current or previous neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy)
  • Tattoos or scarred skin on the left shoulder or scalp (i.e. F4)

Inclusion criteria

Control Participants:

  • No current or previous diagnosis of a mental disorder

Exclusion criteria

Control Participants:

  • More than 2 criteria of borderline personality disorder are met
  • Diagnosis of current or previous neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy)
  • Intake of psychotropic medication
  • Tattoos or scarred skin on the left shoulder or scalp (i.e. F4)

Treatment and study plan

transcranial DC stimulation : anodal

Device

anodal stimulation of the right dlPFC (i.e. F4) for 20 minutes

transcranial DC stimulation : sham

Device

sham stimulation of the right dlPFC (i.e. F4) for 20 minutes

Primary outcomes

  1. Response latencies

    Time frame: Response latencies were exclusively measured during the assigned interventions, which lasted approx. 20 minutes. No further time points were assessed.

    Response latencies were measured in the context of a delayed working memory task. In this paradigm, each trial started with a fixation cross (1000 ms), followed by the presentation of six target letters (1500 ms), which participants were asked to memorize. After a variable distracter period (i.e., interference duration of 1000, 2000, or 4000 ms), participants were presented a recognition display (until a response was made) and had to decide whether the presented letter was part of the initial set of letters. In half of the trials, the recognition display contained a previously presented target. The distracter period of the experimental paradigm was manipulated with regard to the factors valence (grey background screen, or neutral, or negative stimuli) and interference duration (1000, 2000, or 4000 ms). Neutral and negative affective stimuli were selected from the International Affective Picture System.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Freie Universität Berlin

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on the Cognitive Control of Negative Stimuli in Borderline Personality Disorder

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
Aug 17, 2018
Registry last updated
Feb 22, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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