Self-ratings of anger and hostility in borderline personality disorder

Article Abstract:

Although anger is characteristic of borderline personality disorder (a psychiatric diagnosis), many questions concerning the frequency and targets of anger, and the relationship between that emotion and depression in such patients, have not been answered. To learn more about these issues, 46 patients (39 women) with borderline personality disorder (inpatients and outpatients) and 27 normal volunteers underwent testing with the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), a self-rating test designed to assess hostility and anger. Results showed that the patients had higher scores on the Inventory, indicating more anger and hostility, than the normal subjects. Patients' scores were higher on scales measuring irritability, negativism, resentment, suspicion, and guilt; their scores were not different from those of normal subjects on scales measuring assault, indirect hostility, or verbal hostility. Some of the patients also suffered from major depression; the scores of patients who were not currently depressed were higher than those of patients who were currently depressed, indicating that depression in this disorder is not associated with increased anger and hostility. The limitations of the study are discussed. It is likely that an inclination towards anger and hostility is characteristic of the borderline personality. The finding that anger and depression did not increase simultaneously suggests that the states may be regulated by different biological mechanisms. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Mentally ill persons, Testing, Mentally ill, Anger, Borderline personality disorder

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Glucose tolerance testing in women with premenstrual syndrome

Article Abstract:

A wide variety of symptoms numbering over 150 have been attributed to premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In general, this condition is characterized by physical and emotional changes which occur during the last week of the luteal phase (the period of time following ovulation) and usually end within a few days of the onset of menstruation. Despite the fact that this condition has been studied for 50 years, biological markers for PMS are still unknown. It was observed that some of the physical symptoms of PMS are also associated with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar); these include increased appetite, carbohydrate craving, and fatigue. To further investigate this association, 11 women with PMS were given glucose tolerance tests. For each subject, a glucose tolerance test was performed during the late follicular phase and during the late luteal phase of the cycle; during both of these phases more than half of the women had chemical evidence of hypoglycemia. All of the subjects were in different mood states in the two phases; in the luteal phase patients had higher baseline scores for depression and anxiety. None of the patients who had hypoglycemic symptoms reported any similarities between these symptoms and the symptoms of PMS. These data indicate that there is no connection between PMS and hypoglycemia. Changes in glucose tolerance do not seem to be involved with PMS symptoms. In addition, the symptoms of these two conditions are distinctly different. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Measurement, Causes of, Physiological aspects, Blood sugar, Blood glucose, Hypoglycemia

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Mood variability: a study of four groups

Article Abstract:

It is generally thought that specific mood disorders can be characterized by certain patterns of abnormal mood regulation. Little research has been performed to examine whether these patterns really exist or to determine patterns of mood regulation in normal subjects. This study examined patterns of mood regulation in normal subjects and in patients suffering from either major depression, borderline personality disorder, or premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Subjects performed a self-assessment of mood twice a day for two weeks using the global visual analog scale. Results showed significantly different patterns of mood regulation between the four groups. Subjects with major depression had significantly lower ratings of mood in both the morning and evening than did subjects from the other three groups. Subjects with borderline personality disorder had lower ratings for mood in both the morning and the evening than did the normal or the PMS subjects. Variability in ratings over the two-week period was lowest for subjects with depression and highest for subjects with PMS. Variability in ratings from day to day and within each day was highest in subjects with borderline personality disorder. Variability in mood was lowest in subjects with depression. These results indicated that patterns of mood regulation do differ in people, depending on the mood disorder from which they suffer, if any. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Affective disorders, Mood disorders, Mood (Psychology)

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