White matter microstructural abnormalities related to emotional dysfunction and childhood trauma characterize adolescents with borderline personality disorder.

Background: The neurobiological mechanism underlying adolescent borderline personality disorder (BPD) remains unclear. This study aimed to assess white matter (WM) microstructural abnormalities associated with emotional dysfunction and childhood trauma in adolescents with BPD.

Methods: This study enrolled 53 adolescents aged 12-17 years with BPD and 39 healthy controls (HC). Radial diffusivity (RD) and axial diffusivity (AD) were generated using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) analysis of the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data. Correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationship of the DTI parameters with non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI) and childhood trauma in adolescents with BPD.

Results: Adolescents with BPD had lower AD values in the splenium of the corpus callosum, left anterior corona radiata and left external capsule, but higher RD values in the genu of the corpus callosum, body of the corpus callosum, right anterior corona radiata, and right uncinate fasciculus as compared to the HC group (p < 0.05, 5000 permutations). Increased RD values in the body of corpus callosum and right uncinate fasciculus were positively correlated with the NSSI score (p < 0.05). Increased RD value in the right anterior corona radiata was positively correlated with childhood trauma (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: This study identified alterations within the cortical-limbic system in adolescents with BPD, which was correlated with NSSI and childhood trauma. WM diffusivity parameters may serve as potential neuroimaging biomarkers in adolescents with BPD.