[Lifestyle interventions for patients with personality disorder].

It has been known for some time that patients with severe mental disorders often suffer from somatic comorbidity and that they have a shorter life expectancy. However, also patients with personality pathology often suffer from a poorer somatic health associated with a shorter life expectancy. In daily practice a poor somatic condition in these patients seems often due to a maladaptive life style.

Using the attachment network Q-sort for profiling one's attachment style with different attachment-figures.

Attachment instruments vary substantially in practicability of administration, employment of categorical versus dimensional scoring, quality of scales, and applicability to different attachment figures. The Attachment Network Q-sort (ANQ) is a self-report, quasi-qualitative instrument that discriminates relationship-specific attachment styles for multiple attachment figures. The current study assesses the properties of the ANQ in psychotherapy patients and in non-patient respondents, using mother, father and romantic partner as possible attachment figures.

The 5-HTTLPR genotype, early life adversity and cortisol responsivity to psychosocial stress in women.

Background: The serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) has previously been associated with hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis function. Moreover, it has been suggested that this association is moderated by an interaction with stressful life experiences.

Aims: To investigate the moderation of cortisol response to psychosocial stress by 5-HTTLPR genotype, either directly or through an interaction with early life stress.

The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device potentiates stress reactivity.

Background: The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) is currently recommended as a first-line contraceptive with an exclusively local intrauterine influence. However, recent clinical trials have identified side effects of LNG-IUD that appear to be systemically mediated, including depressed mood and emotional lability.

Methods: We performed two experimental studies and a cross-sectional study.

Borderline and cluster C personality disorders manifest distinct physiological responses to psychosocial stress.

Background: Maladaptive emotional control is a defining feature of personality disorders. Yet little is known about the underlying physiological dynamics of emotional reactivity to psychosocial stress across distinct personality disorders. The current study compared subjective emotional responses with autonomic nervous system and HPA axis physiological responses to psychosocial stress in women with cluster C personality disorder (CPD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD).