Serum cholesterol and impulsivity in personality disorders

Psychiatry Res. 1999 Feb 22;85(2):145-50. doi: 10.1016/s0165-1781(99)00007-4.

Abstract

Decreased serum cholesterol has been associated with impulsive aggressive behaviors. This study was designed to explore the relationship between serum cholesterol levels and measures of impulsive aggression in personality disordered patients. Forty-two personality disordered patients (14 borderline personality disorder, 28 other personality disorders) were included. Fasting serum cholesterol was measured by standard enzymatic assay. An ANOVA was performed with factors of gender and diagnosis, looking at two-way interactions between the factors and serum cholesterol. Patients with borderline personality disorder were found to have significantly lower serum cholesterol than non-borderline personality disorders. A significant interaction effect was also seen between gender and diagnosis with the male patients having lower cholesterol levels. This study suggests there may be a relationship between borderline personality disorder and low serum cholesterol.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Borderline Personality Disorder / blood
  • Cholesterol / blood*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / blood*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior / blood*
  • Impulsive Behavior / etiology
  • Male
  • Personality Disorders / blood*
  • Personality Disorders / complications
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Violence

Substances

  • Cholesterol