Abstract #2157

Glutamate Levels in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex Correlate with Self-Reported Impulsivity in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder and Healthy Controls

Mareen Hoerst^1,2, Wofgang Weber-Fahr¹, Nuran Tunc-Skarka¹, Matthias Ruf¹, Martin Bohus², Christian Schmahl², Gabriele Ende¹

¹Department of Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany; ²Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany

Dysfunction and deficits in the structure of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) have been reported in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Impulsivity belongs to the key features of BPD and can be related to ACC function. In this study we found significantly increased self-reported impulsivity and higher levels of glutamate in the anterior cingulate cortex in subjects with BPD as compared to healthy controls. In both groups the ACC glutamate concentrations were positively correlated with self-reported impulsivity.