Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05398627

Neurofeedback for Borderline Personality Disorder

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether rtfMRI-nf training to increase the amygdala response to positive memories may serve as an intervention for borderline personality disorder.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Borderline Personality Disorder Mental Disorders Personality Disorders

Age range

18 year–55 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

About this study

We will assess the treatment effects of real-time fMRI neurofeedback in adults with borderline personality disorder. This is an experimental longitudinal design where participants will be followed every two weeks after receiving 2 sessions of neurofeedback from the amygdala . Procedures involve a battery of self-report measures, fMRI and psychophysiological indices (heart rate, respiration).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • right-handed adults (ages 18 - 55) with a primary diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder according to diagnostic criteria in the Structured Interview for DSM Personality Disorders
  • must be able to give written informed consent prior to participation
  • unmedicated or stable on an SSRI antidepressant regime (at least 3 weeks to ensure symptoms are stable)
  • English speaking

Exclusion criteria

  • have a clinically significant or unstable cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine, neurological, gastrointestinal illness or unstable medical disorder
  • Current moderate or severe DSM-V alcohol or substance use disorder, with the exception of nicotine or caffeine. Clinician will access subjects' alcohol and substance use on a case-by-case to determine whether specific cases of mild alcohol or substance use would also interfere with the effects of the intervention.
  • have a history of traumatic brain injury
  • are unable to complete MRI scan due to claustrophobia or general MRI exclusions (e.g., shrapnel inside body)
  • are currently pregnant or breast feeding
  • are unable to complete questionnaires written in English
  • current (within 3 weeks of testing) use of any antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, or other medications (except SSRI antidepressants) likely to influence cerebral blood flow. Effective medications will not be discontinued for the purposes of the study. Inclusion of patients on stable antidepressant medications was decided in order to allow generalization towards a real world population
  • have a DSM-5 diagnosis of psychotic or organic mental disorder
  • have any eye problems or difficulties in corrected vision.
  • Serious suidicial ideation

Treatment and study plan

Amygdala Neurofeedback

Device

real-time feedback on the hemodynamic response of the amygdala during positive autobiographical memory recall

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from Baseline in Borderline Scale from the Personality Assessment Inventory at 12 weeks

    Time frame: Baseline vs 12 weeks

    Assessment of severity of borderline symptoms. This scale contains 24 items rated on a four-point scale (0=false to 3=very true). Scores range from 0-72, and are converted to T scores, with higher scores indicating more borderline symptoms. Scores below 59 indicate healthy, scores at or above 70T indicate the respondent is likely to have borderline personality disorder.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change from Baseline in Beck Depression Inventory at 12 weeks

    Time frame: Baseline vs 12 weeks

    Assessment of severity of depressive symptoms. This is a 21 item self-report scale with items rated from 0-3 and scores ranging from 0 to 63 with higher scores indicating worse depression. A score less than 13 is considered to be in the healthy range, scores 14-19 indicate mild depression, scores 20-28 indicate moderate depression, scores 29-63 indicate severe depression.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Kymberly Young

Other

Collaborators

  • AE Foundation

Registry information

Official study title

Amygdala rtfMRI Neurofeedback for Borderline Personality Disorder

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jun 1, 2022
Registry last updated
May 5, 2026

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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.