Personal space (PS) regulation is a key component of effective socialengagement. PS varies among individuals and is regulated by brain circuitsinvolving the amygdala and the frontoparietal network. Others have reportedthat simulated PS intrusions suggest larger preferred interpersonal distance(PID) and a central role of amygdala hyperactivity in PS regulation inBorderline Personality Disorder (BPD). This study is the first report of liveinterpersonal distance preferences and relation to specific symptoms in BPD. Wefound a 2-fold larger PID in BPD than control (n=30, n=23). There were nosignificant differences in PID in BPD subject by medication status or pre-studydiagnosis, and no significant correlations between PID and intensity of BPD,mood, anxiety, impulsive, or psychotic symptoms. In summary, PID is larger inBPD than control subjects. Unexpectedly, BPD subject PID did not differ in bymedication status and did not correlate with intensity of any of the symptomtypes tested. We discuss these findings in context of severe attachmentdisturbances in BPD and the relationship between metaphoric social distance inthe attachment framework. Future work is needed to identify neural circuitsunderlying PS regulation in BPD, individual differences in attachment, andrelationship to symptom trajectory.
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