TL;DR: Brain scans of 48 women with borderline personality disorder showed less gray matter in the insula and parts of the frontal lobe than in 54 women without it. Some of those frontal areas were more strongly in sync with other brain regions, and that syncing was linked to symptom severity, self-harm and childhood trauma. …
In Borderline Personality Disorder, Loneliness Tracked a Gap Between Self-View and Expectations TL;DR: In borderline personality disorder, loneliness was higher when patients rated themselves as especially prosocial and justice-sensitive but did not expect the same level of fairness or concern from other people. Key Findings Self-view and expectations diverged in BPD: Treatment-seeking patients showed bigger …
TLDR: A case study reveals a 70-year-old woman developed erotomanic delusions and attempted suicide following online romance fraud. Highlights: 70-year-old woman with persistent depressive disorder. Victim of online romance fraud involving a renowned musician’s image. Developed erotomanic delusions and attempted suicide. Treatment included antidepressants, low-dose risperidone, and therapy. Significant symptom remission after four weeks of …
Those with personality disorders face an elevated risk of suicidal thoughts, attempts, and deaths. Factors like childhood trauma and substance use issues may partially explain this vulnerability. While treatments like dialectical behavior therapy show promise for prevention, more research is still needed. Key Facts: 17 of 24 studies found personality disorders tied significantly to suicidal …
Pregnancy denial, also known as cryptic pregnancy, refers to a lack of awareness of being pregnant, often until late in the pregnancy or even childbirth. It is a more common phenomenon than generally realized, occurring in an estimated 1 in 500 pregnancies. Women affected are usually mentally and physically healthy. The underlying causes are complex …
Sadism refers to deriving pleasure from inflicting physical or emotional pain on others. A new review illuminates the personality traits that relate to higher levels of sadism. Key Facts: Sadism is linked to “dark personality traits” like psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism. Of these, psychopathy shows the strongest connection. Antisocial behaviors like aggression and rule-breaking contribute …
People with pathological narcissism are known for their grandiose, arrogant behavior and sense of entitlement. However, beneath the surface lies a vulnerable inner world rife with insecurity, emptiness, and dysregulated emotions, according to a new qualitative study. Key Facts: 436 partners and family members of people with high narcissistic traits described their relative’s emotional makeup …
Narcissism is characterized by self-importance, entitlement, and interpersonal difficulties. Neuroscience research has begun to uncover the complex mechanisms underlying the paradoxical patterns of narcissistic functioning. Key findings show: Narcissism involves heightened vigilance and stress reactivity to ego threats despite outward grandiosity Alterations in brain regions involved in self-vs-other processing may underlie narcissistic self-focus and empathy …
A new brain imaging study has uncovered structural differences in the white matter of young men diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). These differences provide clues into the neural correlates underlying the grandiose sense of self and lack of empathy that characterize NPD. Key Facts: Researchers used diffusion tensor imaging to compare white matter microstructure …
A new neuroimaging study has uncovered associations between subclinical narcissistic traits and regional grey matter volumes in the brain, specifically in the insular cortex and multiple prefrontal regions. The research, conducted by scientists at the University of Jena in Germany, provides novel evidence that narcissistic personality tendencies are linked to structural variations in brain networks …
