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Effects of mindfulness training on different components of impulsivity in borderline personality disorder: results from a pilot randomized study.

Joaquim Soler, Matilde Elices, Juan C Pascual, Ana Martín‐Blanco, Albert Feliu-Soler, Cristina Carmona, Maria J Portella

Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation January 11, 2016 DOI: 10.1186/s40479-015-0035-8 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 64
Population Adults with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder
Interventions Mindfulness training Interpersonal effectiveness skills training
Duration 10 weeks
Topics Meditation
Keywords Time perception Impulsivity Borderline personality disorder Response inhibition Delayed reward
Registration NCT02397031
Key findings Mindfulness training improved delay of gratification and changed time perception in a direction consistent with reduced impulsivity, compared with interpersonal effectiveness skills training, but the groups did not differ on trait impulsivity or response inhibition. The authors suggest mindfulness training may affect only some components of impulsivity and that further study is needed.

Abstract

Background: Impulsivity is considered a core characteristic of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Previous research on the effects of mindfulness training (MT) has shown that it might modify impulsivity-related aspects of BPD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of MT on various facets of impulsivity in BPD patients.

Methods: Subjects with BPD diagnosis (n = 64) were randomly assigned to 10 weeks of MT (n = 32) or interpersonal effectiveness skills training (IE; n = 32). All participants were assessed pre- and post-intervention with a self-reported measure of impulsivity and five behavioral neuropsychological tasks to evaluate response inhibition, tolerance for delay rewards, and time perception.

Results: An interaction effect of time × group was only observed for some of the behavioral paradigms used. Participants in the MT group improved their ability to delay gratification and showed changes in time perception, consistent with a decrease in impulsivity. No differences were observed between treatments in terms of trait impulsivity and response inhibition.

Conclusions: Mindfulness training might improve some aspects of impulsivity but not others. Further study is warranted to better determine the effects of mindfulness training on the components of impulsivity.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02397031.

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment 2003 Randomized controlled trial n = 41
Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2000 Randomized controlled trial n = 145
Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults 2008 Randomized controlled trial n = 139
Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students 2007 Randomized controlled trial n = 40
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2004 Randomized controlled trial n = 73

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