Latent Toxoplasmosis in Females With Borderline Personality Disorder
Latent Toxoplasmosis in Females With Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder is a common mental disorder with core features of affective
 dysregulation, impulsivity, and identity disturbance. Although this disorder is mostly
 understood as a result of a combination of biological factors (genes, temperament) and early
 aversive experiences (often of traumatic nature), recent data suggest that other factors may
 be important in its development and course. Preliminary findings show that patients with
 borderline personality disorder have higher prevalence of Toxoplasma seropositivity. This
 infection may manifest in symptoms such as affective dysregulation, aggression, suicidality,
 or anxiousness. As such, it may play a role in the psychopathology of the borderline
 personality disorder. The aim of this study is to explore the prevalence of Toxoplasma
 seropositivity in a sample of females with borderline personality disorder, its clinical
 correlates, and a potential impact on outcomes of an intensive six-week inpatient
 schema-therapeutic treatment. Results may enrich our understanding of this disorder and lead
 to improvements of the therapeutic approaches.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Adult

 -  Female

 -  Borderline personality disorder diagnosis according to the Diagnostic and Statistical
 Manual of Mental Disorders-5 criteria

 -  Signed informed consent

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Current substance abuse disorder

 -  Psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, organic mental disorder current or past

 -  Severe suicidal risk

 -  Severe somatic illness (e.g., endocrinopathy, oncologic, hematologic, cardiologic, or
 neurologic illness)