Comparison of Cognitive and Emotional Functions in Individuals with Borderline and Antisocial Personality Disorders: A Study Based on QEEG

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD student in psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Department of Psychology, Ardabil, Iran

2 Professor at the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Department of Psychology, Ardabil, Iran

3 neurologist and psychiatrist at the Jam hospital, Tehran, Iran

10.22098/jrp.2025.18049.1329

Abstract

Borderline and antisocial personality disorders cause numerous cognitive and emotional problems. This study aimed to compare cognitive and emotional functions in individuals with these disorders. In this cross-sectional study, 30 participants were included: 15 with borderline personality disorder and 15 with antisocial personality disorder. Using QEEG, a 7-minute and 15-second resting-state EEG with closed eyes was recorded from each participant, and three minutes of artifact-free data were analyzed with NeuroGuide software. Participants also completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). QEEG analysis revealed distinct patterns of brain activity corresponding to the observed differences in cognitive and emotional functions between BPD and ASPD participants. Results showed significant differences (P<0.05) in cognitive and emotional functions such as anxiety, sustained attention, mood, language, memory, mirror neurons, and selective attention, but no significant differences (P>0.05) in addiction reward, ventral attention, default mode, and pain. Executive function differences approached significance. Significant differences also emerged in DERS subscales related to goal-directed behavior, impulse control, lack of emotional awareness, and lack of clarity. Borderline participants showed poorer performance than antisocial participants in most cognitive and emotional skills, except mirror neurons and empathy. Except for emotional non-acceptance and limited access to strategies, the groups differed significantly in other emotion regulation subscales.

Keywords

Journal of Research in Psychopathology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 30 September 2025

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