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Highlights • Effects of tonic sympathetic (SNS) activation on negative urgency were examined. • Higher SNS activity strengthened the association between neuroticism and urgency. • SNS also strengthened the link between neuroticism and hostile reactivity to stress. • Lower SNS strengthened link between neuroticism and shame reactivity to stress. • Hostile reactivity partially mediated the moderating effect of SNS on urgency. Abstract The tendency to engage in impulsive behavior in the context of negative affect, known as negative urgency, has emerged as a powerful transdiagnostic predictor of behavioral dysregulation. Although general vulnerability to negative affect (neuroticism) correlates with negative urgency, not all neurotic individuals engage in urgent behavior. Given prior experimental evidence that sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation may promote emotion-related impulsivity, the present study examines tonic SNS activity as a moderator of the link between neuroticism and negative urgency. Participants (N = 194) completed measures of neuroticism and negative urgency, as well as a stress task. They also underwent assessment of tonic SNS activity (cardiac pre-ejection period). The link between neuroticism and negative urgency was strengthened for individuals with higher tonic SNS activity; however, this was not the case for behavioral performance on the task. A similar pattern was demonstrated for hostile reactivity to the stress task; increased hostile response partially explained the interaction between SNS activation and neuroticism on negative urgency. These findings suggest a potential facilitative role of the SNS in hostile reactivity and emotion-driven impulsivity among more neurotic individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Impulsivity is a multidimensional construct and has been previously associated with suicidal behaviour in borderline personality disorder (BPD). This study examined the associations between suicidal behaviour and impulsivity-related personality traits, as well as history of childhood sexual abuse, in 76 patients diagnosed with BPD using both the Structured Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders III (DSM-III) Axis-II diagnoses and the self-personality questionnaire. Impulsivity-related traits were measured using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11), the Buss–Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) and the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R). We found that hostility and childhood sexual abuse, but not impulsivity or other temperament traits, significantly predicted the presence, number and severity of previous suicide attempts. Hostility traits and childhood sexual abuse showed an impact on suicide attempts in BPD. Our results support previous findings indicating that high levels of hostility and having suffered sexual abuse during childhood lead to an increased risk for suicidal behaviour in BPD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The current study addresses the relationship of personality and atypical depression using the Five-Factor Model (FFM), a dimensional approach to personality. The aim of the study was to help clarify which personality traits are more characteristic of atypical depression than of other depressive subtypes. Outpatients (n =160) with non-psychotic major depression were characterized as having atypical (n =26), or non-atypical depression (n =134) based on DSM-IV criteria. To limit the effect of state depression, personality was assessed after subjects received a minimum of 14 weeks of antidepressant treatment. The Revised NEO Personality Inventory, which generates data based on the FFM, was the primary assessment measure. Post-treatment, relative to the non-atypical comparison group, the atypical group had significantly higher scores on the dimension of Neuroticism, the facets of Impulsivity and Anger–Hostility, and a significantly lower score on the facet of Deliberation. In sum, the FFM provides a new understanding of which unique personality characteristics may be associated with atypical depression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that platelet serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) content is correlated with measures of aggression in healthy human subjects. Platelet 5-HT content (ng/mg protein) was measured in personality-disordered (PD) and normal control (NC) subjects. Aggression was assessed with the Life History of Aggression (LHA), the Buss–Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), and the Motor Aggression and Research Criteria for Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED-IR); impulsivity was assessed with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire II (EPQII) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). LHA Aggression, but not impulsivity, scores showed significant inverse correlations with platelet 5-HT content in all subjects or in PD subjects alone. The findings in PD subjects remained significant after co-varying for race. PD subjects with IED-IR had lower platelet 5-HT content compared with PD subjects who did not have IED-IR, although this finding only approached significance after controlling for race. This study demonstrates an association between reduced platelet 5-HT content and aggression in PD subjects. Similar to other studies of platelet 5-HT markers, these data suggest that platelet 5-HT content may also reflect central 5-HT alterations and may be used as a biological marker in appropriate patient samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]