Dopamines Role in Borderline Personality Disorder

Dopamines Role in Borderline Personality Disorder BPD Print Dopamines Role in Mental Illness By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. Learn about our editorial policy Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Updated on August 18, 2019 Tom M Johnson / Getty Images More in BPD Diagnosis Treatment Living With BPD Related Conditions Dopamine is a neurotransmitter  (a chemical released by nerve cells)  that plays an important and diverse role in how your brain functions.   Dopamines Role in the Brain Dopamine neurons (nerve cells) have cell bodies in the midbrain with nerve fibers (called axons) that extend into a number of other sites in the brain. This allows for dopamine to be transmitted from one brain site to another, and these connections are called dopaminergic pathways.   One dopaminergic pathway projects from an area of the midbrain called the substantia nigra to the basal ganglia, which coordinates movement in the body. When there is  a loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra, Parkinsons disease occursâ€"a neurological disease characterized by slowed movements, a rigid appearance, and a resting tremor. Other sites of dopamine signaling include the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain that is important for problem-solving, complex thinking, memory, intelligence, and language. Minor dopamine signaling pathways include the amygdala, which plays an important role in emotion processing, and the hippocampus, which is important for memory. In addition to movement, emotion, memory, and thinking, dopamine neurons play a critical role in motivation and reward. This is why certain substances of abuse, especially cocaine and nicotine, are addictiveâ€"as these substances stimulate the dopamine-mediated reward system in the brain.   Dopamines Link to Your Health Besides Parkinsons disease, a number of psychiatric illnesses have been linked to dopamine dysregulation like schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, and depression. The manner in which dopamine has affected these psychiatric illnesses is unique. For example, in ADD, impairment in the dopamine system causes poor attention. This is why stimulants, like Ritalin (methylphenidate) or Adderall (amphetamine), which increase dopamine levels in the brain, help improve attention and alertness. On the other hand, in schizophrenia, the dopamine system is overactive. This is why medications that block dopamine receptors in the brain (called antipsychotics) are used in its treatment. Does Dopamine Play a Role in Borderline Personality Disorder? Some researchers believe that dopamine dysfunction may be involved in the development of borderline personality disorder (BPD). This mainly stems from studies that support dopamines role in thinking, regulating emotions, and impulse controlâ€"all of which are impaired in people with BPD. Also, antipsychotic medications  seem to reduce some BPD symptoms, especially those of anger and cognitive problems (like paranoid thinking). That being said, other experts argue that the manner in which antipsychotics benefit patients with BPD is through non-dopamine pathways. Overall, its hard to say at this time how critical dopamine is in the development or course of BPD. More research will be helpful in elucidating this connection.   Bottom Line The dopamine system is an intricate, fascinating system that participates in a number of different neurological and mental functions. By further examining dopamines role in the brain, scientists will hopefully gain the information they need to develop more targeted dopamine medicationsâ€"so people with dopamine-mediated illnesses, like schizophrenia, can get well and avoid undesirable side effects.