Biomarkers of Change in BPD After Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy-standard Approach

The present randomised clinical trial aims to assess the clinical and neurobiological changes following Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy -standard approach (MIT-SA) compared with Clinical Structured Treatment (CST) derived from specific recommendations in APA guidelines for borderline personality disorder (BPD). The investigators will assess clinical changes in metacognitive abilities and in emotion regulation and changes in brain activation patterns at the resting state and while they view emotional pictures. A multidimensional assessment will be performed at the baseline, at 6, 12, 18 months. The investigators will take structural and functional Magnetic Resonance Images (MRIs) in MIT-Treated BPD (N=30) and CST-treated BPD (N=30) at baseline and after treatment, as well as a group of 30 healthy and unrelated volunteers that will be scanned once for comparison. Furthermore, blood analyses will be done in order to assess level of BDNF and some hormone levels (oxytocin and vasopressin) before and after treatments.