
Sleep Patterns in Borderline Personality Disorder
Sleep disturbances in borderline personality disorder are relatively unrecognized.
Borderline personality disorder has many clinical features, including relatively unrecognized sleep disturbances. Generally, sleep problems are not considered a primary characteristic of this condition, but research is beginning to identify specific patterns of sleep disruptions that are associated with the disorder.
While the criteria for diagnosis of
Several studies have shown that patients who have borderline personality disorder experience substantial variability in their sleep times from night to night when compared with the general population. These trends have been documented by clinical history and questionaries, and objectively with actigraphy and polysomnogram studies.2
Furthermore, the severity of certain symptoms of borderline personality disorder has been shown to correlate with certain actigraphy patterns that demonstrate daytime and nighttime abnormalities that are consistent with circadian sleep disturbance. In one study, patients who carried a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and who had high levels of impulsivity and mood instability showed substantial phase delayed daytime activity patterns, low inter daily stability, weak amplitude, and greater fragmentation of rest activity states over a study duration of 28 days.3 These patterns were not noted in the study participants who had a diagnosis of
While there appears to be a correlation between the severity of symptoms of borderline personality disorder and circadian rhythm dysfunction, the clinical implications have not been established, nor has any specific cause-and-effect relationship. Whether the emotional and behavioral aspects of borderline personality disorder affect circadian rhythm regulation, or the circadian rhythm dysregulation affects symptoms of borderline personality disorder is not clear. The distinct differences in circadian rhythm disturbance patterns between patients with borderline personality disorder and patients with bipolar disorder that has been replicated in several studies is interesting, especially given the similarities between the 2 conditions.
Circadian rhythm disturbance is objectively quantifiable, but difficult to treat, and these observations do not clearly provide direction for the treatment of borderline personality disorder. However, awareness and treatment of sleep disturbances are important aspects of patient management. Screening tests, including interviews and actigraphy, can identify
Dr Moawad is associate editor, Humanities in Neurology; clinical assistant professor, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Division of Medical Education; and editor in chief emeritus of Neurology Times (2017-2019).
References
1. Palmer BA, Pahwa M, Geske JR, et al.
2. McGowan NM, Saunders KEA.
3. McGowan NM, Goodwin GM, Bilderbeck AC, Saunders KEA.
4. McGowan NM, Goodwin GM, Bilderbeck AC, Saunders KEA.
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