Citation

Jovev M, Garner B, Phillips L, Velakoulis D, Wood SJ, Jackson HJ, Pantelis C, McGorry PD, Chanen AM. Psychiatry Res. 2008; 162(3): 273-277.

Affiliation

ORYGEN Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.pscychresns.2007.12.003

PMID

18304783

Abstract

This structural magnetic resonance imaging study examined the relationship between pituitary gland volume (PGV) and lifetime number of parasuicidal behaviors in a first-presentation, teenage borderline personality disorder (BPD) sample with minimal exposure to treatment. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that age and number of parasuicidal behaviors were significant predictors of PGV. These findings indicate that parasuicidal behavior in BPD might be associated with greater activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Further studies are required using direct neuroendocrine measures and exploring other parameters of self-injurious behavior, such as recency of self-injurious behavior, intent to die and medical threat.

Language: en