Sleep Med Psychophysiol.  2012 Dec;19(2):59-62.

Sleep in Borderline Personality Disorder Individuals

• Lee SJ

Abstract

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by identity and interpersonal problem, affective dysregulation and pervasive severe impulsivity. Although sleep disturbances are not primary symptoms of BPD, they are important aspects of this disorder. However, clinicians and researchers did not give much attention to the sleep symptoms of BPD yet. Measured by nocturnal polysomnography, increased sleep latency as well as reduced total sleep time and sleep efficiency, and 'depression-like' REM abnormalities (i.e., reduced REM latency and increased REM density) are found in BPD patients. Co-morbid sleep disorders such as chronic insomnia, nightmare disorder or circadian rhythm sleep disorder associated with BPD have been reported. Clinicians should focus on the sleep complaints of BPD patients, and carefully manage such symptoms with sleep hygiene education, cognitive psychotherapy or light therapy.

Keyword

Borderline personality disorder; Nocturnal polysomnography; Quality of sleep; Sleep-wake cycle; Nightmare

MeSH Terms

Borderline Personality Disorder
Circadian Rhythm
Cognitive Therapy
Dreams
Humans
Hygiene
Phototherapy
Polysomnography
Sleep Wake Disorders
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders