Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This disorder is associated with a significant rate of suicide attempts and completed suicides (4 to 10%), a major impairment in social functioning and an increased healthcare utilization cost. Treatments available include psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. Research has shown some efficacy of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on post-traumatic stress disorder and mood disorder which both share common biological or clinical features with BPD. It is then likely that rTMS might prove efficient on BPD symptoms.A review of the literature on neuroimaging and neuropsychology of BPD shows a hypoactivity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex which may be a potential target site for rTMS.We will conduct a pilot randomized sham-controlled trial on 30 BPD patients assessing the efficacy of a 10-day course of daily rTMS on neuropsychological tasks, BPD symptoms severity, risk taking behaviour, depression and general psychopathology.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in borderline personality disorder: clinical and brain connectivity changes