Abstract
Behavioral neuroscience findings regarding stress-induced analgesia may be an appropriate model for the paradoxical effects of self-mutilative pain of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). We hypothesized that BPD patients would show an exaggerated antinociceptive effect from an uncontrollable cold pressor stress, compared to persons with other personality disorders or to a nonpsychiatric control group. This hypothesis was supported. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association (1987).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.) Washington, DC: Author.
Atkinson, J., Kremer, E., Risch, C., Morgan, C., Azad, R., Lers, C., & Bloom, F. (1983). Plasma measures of beta-endorphin/beta lipotropin-like immunoreactivity in chronic pain syndrome and psychiatric subjects.Psychiatric Research, 2, 319–327.
Clark, C., Yang, J., & Janal, M. (1986). Altered pain and visual sensitivity in humans: The effects of acute and chronic stress. In D. Kelley (Ed.),Stress-Induced analgesia. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (Vol. 467, pp. 116–129). New York: New York Academy of Sciences.
Coid, J., Allolio, B., & Rees, L. (1983). Raised plasma metenkephalin in patients who habitually mutilate themselves.Lancet, 2, 545–546.
Efran, J., Chorney, R., Ascher, M., & Lukens, M. (1989). Coping styles, paradox and the cold pressor task.Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12, 91–103.
Fanselow, M. (1991). Analgesia as a response to aversive Pavlovian conditional stimuli: Cognitive and emotional mediators. In M. R. Denny (Ed.),Fear, avoidance and phobias: A fundamental analysis. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Gunderson, J., Kolb, J., & Austin, V. (1981). The diagnostic interview for borderline patients.American Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 896–903.
Janal, M., Colt, W., Clark, W., & Glusman, M. (1984). Pain sensitivity, mood and plasma endocrine levels in man following long-distance running: Effects of naloxone.Pain, 19, 13–25.
Kolb, L. (1987). A neuropsychological hypothesis explaining posttraumatic stress disorder.American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 989–996.
Komisuruk, B., & Whipple, B. (1986). Vaginal stimulation-produced analgesia in rats and women. In D. Kelley (Ed.),Stress-Induced analgesia. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (Vol. 467, pp. 30–39). New York: New York Academy of Sciences.
Maier, S. (1986). Stressor controllability and stress-induced analgesia. In D. Kelley (Ed.),Stress-induced analgesia. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (Vol. 467, pp. 55–72). New York: New York Academy of Sciences.
Millon, T. (1983).The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory manual (3rd ed.). Minneapolis, MN: National Computer Services.
Pitman, R. (1990). Self-mutilation in combat-related PTSD.American Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 123–124.
Russ, M. (1992). Self-injurious behavior in patients with borderline personality disorder: Biological perspectives.Journal of Personality Disorders, 6, 64–81.
van der Kolk, B. (1987).Psychological trauma. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.
van der Kolk, B., Greenberg, M., Boyd, H., & Krystal, R. (1985). Inescapable shock, neurotransmitters, and addiction to trauma: Toward a psychobiology of posttraumatic stress.Biological Psychiatry, 20, 314–325.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McCown, W., Galina, H., Johnson, J. et al. Borderline personality disorder and laboratory-induced cold pressor pain: Evidence of stress-induced analgesia. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 15, 87–95 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00960610
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00960610