Project Summary

Celyne H. Bastien, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2005) of Laval University, aims to use electrophysiology measures to assess hypervigilance, or heightened awareness, a behavior that often is associated with impulsivity in people with borderline personality disorder. As hypervigilance can impair sleep in people without borderline personality disorder, Dr. Bastien plans to study the trait in people who have the condition and who also report insomnia problems, and in controls. No studies to date have examined “vigilance” during sleep in this condition. Dr. Bastein suggests that hypervigilance observed in borderline personality disorder during the day may persist during the night, contributing to the sleep difficulties. This project will compare electrophysiology measures in chronic insomniacs and good sleepers to better understand hypervigilance borderline personality disorder. Besides providing data for the differential diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, this research should enhance understanding of the electrophysiology and psychophysiology of borderline personality disorder compared with that of bipolar disease and depression. Findings might lead to better treatments for individuals with borderline personality disorders, in regards to impulsivity during the day and sleep disorders at night.

Program Area: PERSONALITY DISORDERS\Borderline Personality Disorder

Search Again