NCT02728778

Botulinum Toxin A for Emotional Stabilization in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 54 (actual)
• Sponsor: Hannover Medical School · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The main objective of the trial is to test whether a single application of botulinum toxin A into the glabellar region will lead to emotional stabilization in borderline personality disorder through paralysis of facial muscles/attenuation of negative emotions.

Detailed description

Afferent feedback from facial muscles is believed to enhance emotional states (facial feedback theory). The facial expression of negative emotions involves facial muscles of the glabellar region. It has been shown that paralysis of facial muscles in the forehead using botulinum toxin A leads to the improvement of depressive symptoms. It is believed that the limited ability to express these emotions alleviates depressive symptoms. As Borderline personality disorder is characterized by negative emotions expressed via facial muscles in the forehead, it is hypothesized that BPD patients could profit from botulinum toxin treatment.

Conditions

• Borderline Personality Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	incobotulinumtoxin A	Application of botulinum toxin A into the forehead
PROCEDURE	Acupuncture	Application of acupuncture into the forehead

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-09-01
• Primary completion: 2019-04-30
• Completion: 2019-10-31
• First posted: 2016-04-05
• Last updated: 2020-05-29

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Germany