Fatty acid ethanolamide levels are altered in borderline personality and complex posttraumatic stress disorders

Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2014 Aug;264(5):459-63. doi: 10.1007/s00406-013-0470-8. Epub 2013 Nov 20.

Abstract

Borderline personality (BPD) and complex posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) are both powerfully associated with the experience of interpersonal violence during childhood and adolescence. The disorders frequently co-occur and often result in pervasive problems in, e.g., emotion regulation and altered pain perception, where the endocannabinoid system is deeply involved. We hypothesize an endocannabinoid role in both disorders. We investigated serum levels of the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol and related fatty acid ethanolamides (FAEs) in BPD, PTSD, and controls. Significant alterations were found for both endocannabinoids in BPD and for the FAE oleoylethanolamide in PTSD suggesting a respective link to both disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amides
  • Arachidonic Acids / blood
  • Borderline Personality Disorder / blood*
  • Endocannabinoids / blood
  • Ethanolamines / blood
  • Fatty Acids / blood*
  • Female
  • Glycerides / blood
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Palmitic Acids / blood
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides / blood
  • Prospective Studies
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / blood*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Amides
  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Ethanolamines
  • Fatty Acids
  • Glycerides
  • Palmitic Acids
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • palmidrol
  • glyceryl 2-arachidonate
  • anandamide