الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 177 |  |  |
| | | from | 177 | | |
Abstract
BPD is a severe personality disorder characterized primarily by enduring pattern of affect dysregulation, chronic emptiness, disturbed sense of self, fear of abandonment, impulsiveness, and suicidal and para-suicidal self-harm behaviors.
Patients with BPD has higher rates of childhood neglect and abuse in comparison with patients with other personality and mental health disorders. It has also been reported that childhood sexual abuse is more common in BPD patients than those diagnosed with other PDs. Adverse childhood events also play an important role in the severity of BPD symptoms.
Childhood adverse events can affect HPA axis which is the neuroendocrine system that plays a major role in coordinating stress response. One possible mechanism that may explain the influence of environmental factors such as childhood trauma and early life stress is through epigenetic changes in the genes regulating the HPA axis.
Our study aimed at studying childhood trauma exposure and its relationship with NR3C1 DNA methylation in Egyptian patients with BPD. Also, to assess the relationship between degree of NR3C1 DNA methylation and GE among BPD patients, and the relationship between NR3C1 gene DNA methylation and GE, and the severity and symptom profile of BPD.
Case control study design was used with inclusion of a total of 128 participants divided into 2 groups. Sixty-four BPD participants were recruited from Al-Hadra University Hospital outpatient psychiatry clinic and were compared to age and gender matched control group recruited from healthy volunteers.
Both genders, aged from 18 to 60 years were included in the study after signing an informed consent. Subjects with intellectual disability, schizophrenia, and organic brain syndrome were excluded from the study.