Can a PD be detected from a brain scan?

[Feeling Better]

This has been bugging me for a while so I’ve finally decided to put it out here.

My mother had a brain scan about a year ago after having a very mild stroke, she was in hospital just one night.

Her doctor said that the scan showed up two spots on her brain that they wouldn’t normally expect to see there, and asked me if she’d always had them. Obviously I didn’t know because as far as I know she’d never had a brain scan before.

Any ideas anyone?

[Learning2Thrive]

Hi FB 

I don’t know the answer to your question, but I am fascinated by the idea. Thank you for asking the question. I hope others may have information that they can share.

  L2T

[Feeling Better]

Thanks for the reply L2T, it’s much appreciated. 

[zachira]

Not as far as I know. You might look at some of Daniel Amen's books and shows on PBS, because he claims to be able to detect certain mental health issues thru brain scans.

[JNChell]

This is what I was able to dig up, Feeling Better. From what I understand, this is all still theory. I can source it if you’d like.

First off, look up neuroscientist James H. Fallon. He’s done some good work, and claims to have realized through brain scans of himself that he is ASPD. Keep in mind that children are born this way. In order to become scary, psychopaths need to be triggered. He was raised well, he just lacks emotion and the ability to read or care about other’s emotions.

Ok.

Amygdala-Regulates fear and aggression. pwBPD have smaller Amygdalas. The smaller, the worse.

Hippocampus-This is our memory, where we are (spatial orientation) and our emotional reactions. This part of the brain is in a constant state of hyperarousal for a Borderline.

Hypothalmic-pituitary/adrenal axis. Responsible for cortisol (stress hormone) production.

Prefrontal Cortex-This is what makes us human, emotionally. Brain scans have shown this portion of the brain to be inactive in people with Cluster B disorders.

From what I’ve read, high levels of cortisol have eroded the Amygdala, Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex. Basically, the stress was acid on the brain if this theory/study holds any weight.

I have read and heard a lot about dead spots in the brain when it comes to PD’s. To me, it makes sense. Being emotionally stunted is due to the brain not forming as it should. Hope this helps your curiosity.

[Harri]

I am aware of studies that show differences in brain function in people with BPD vs. 'normal' brains via functional MRIs, but that is different (I think) from doing an MRI and detecting BPD/PD based on MRI alone. 

https://psychcentral.com/news/2009/09/04/brain-scans-clarify-borderline-personality-disorder/8184.html

Are you in a position to ask your mother's physician, perhaps at her next visit?

[Feeling Better]

Zachira, thank you for your reply, I googled Daniel Amen, read a bit about him and for a bit of fun I took his brain test, so thanks for that x

[Feeling Better]

JNChell, wow, thank you so much. I’ve done loads of internet searches and just kept hitting a brick wall. What you have written is really interesting, thank you for taking the time to find this for me 

I’ve read snippets about the brain and how it works, looks like I’ve got a bit more reading to do. I can’t believe that up until a couple of years ago I’d never even heard of BPD. What a life changer it’s turned out to be.

This is what I was able to dig up, Feeling Better. From what I understand, this is all still theory. I can source it if you’d like.

Yes please 

I have read and heard a lot about dead spots in the brain when it comes to PD’s. To me, it makes sense. Being emotionally stunted is due to the brain not forming as it should. Hope this helps your curiosity.

It makes perfect sense to me too, my curiosity is further aroused 

[Feeling Better]

Thank you Harri, I have just read the article that you sent me. I think it ties in with what JNChell wrote - the inactivity of the brain that was detected by the scans could well be related to the dead spots that he wrote about.

My mother had her scan at the hospital and I’m not sure whether I would be able to speak to someone there, it certainly has crossed my mind a couple of times. I mentioned it quite nonchalantly to my mother a few days ago, can’t remember what we were talking about that led me to ask her if she’d asked her own doctor about it. She said she didn’t know anything about it (she hadn’t heard what the doctor had said), so I just let it go.

[JNChell]

Here ya go, Feeling Better! The first link is the article that I sourced the different parts of the brain from. The author is actually a recovered pwBPD. The second is just the Wikipedia page for Fallon. A simple google search should dig up more info on him if you’re interested.

https://medium.com/@KevinRedmayne/its-all-in-your-head-borderline-personality-disorder-and-the-brain-c14b66eb0966

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_H._Fallon

[Feeling Better]

Thanks for the links JNChell, I really appreciate it.

I’ve been busy on google searching for info on dead spots in the brain, it’s all interesting stuff!

Thanks again 

[Turkish]

If her brain is wired differently,  how do you feel about that FB?

[Feeling Better]

Turkish, I have asked myself that question many times and I always struggle with the answer.

I have a bit of a conundrum in that I can accept that my son has a mental health problem, and yes, his brain is probably wired differently. I have compassion for him. I love him despite his behaviour towards me which I have learned not to take personally.

Now, if I can do that with my son, why do I struggle to do it with my mother? And I really do struggle because I just cannot conceive how a mother could say and do the horrible things that she does to her daughter (me!). I would never do to my kids what she does to me, never.