Twelve patients with borderline personality disorder and 15 healthy
comparison subjects were challenged with single doses of oral m-
chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) and placebo. Following m-CPP, the patients
experienced decreased anger and fear. Seven of the 12 patients reported a
"spacy," "high," depersonalized/derealized experience following m-CPP,
which was confirmed by clinicians' ratings. Compared with the normal male
subjects, the male patients with borderline personality disorder had higher
cortisol levels and marginally blunted prolactin responses after receiving
m-CPP. These results suggest serotonergic dysfunction in borderline
personality disorder.
Abstract Teaser