Exploring Emotional Recovery From Anger in Individuals With Borderline Personality Disorder: The Role of Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia as a Potential Physiological Mechanism

Difficulties in emotional regulation are central to borderline personality disorder (BPD), which is characterized by heightened emotional reactivity and prolonged recovery from anger, often exacerbated by rumination. In this study, we examine the role of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) as a vital indicator of parasympathetic nervous system activity in BPD patients exposed to anger-inducing films. We recruited 35 BPD patients and 35 healthy controls, collecting self-reported emotional symptoms and physiological data during baseline, induction, recovery, and relaxation sessions. The findings revealed that BPD participants exhibited significantly slower RSA recovery from anger, underscoring its critical role in emotional regulation. Furthermore, relaxation techniques were found to enhance emotional recovery, suggesting that lower parasympathetic activation during anger makes individuals with BPD more susceptible to intense emotions. This study highlights the importance of RSA in understanding the emotional recovery process in BPD.