Borderline Personality Disorder - Understanding It, History, Treatment, Closing - Includes Outline and Bibliography

What is Borderline Personality Disorder? Defined by the website www.borderlinepersonalitydisorder.com, “Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness that causes unstable moods, behavior, and relationships. It usually begins during adolescence or early adulthood.” One may wonder what can be the cause of this disorder. BPD can be detected by an in-person interview about the symptoms that are occurring. The input from family and close friends of the individual that is being treated can also help detect the symptoms. The causes for BPD are not fully

Psychologists perform many studies related to Borderline Personality Disorder. One study in adults proves that 2-8% of adults suffer from BPD. In the same study, psychologist discovered that in fact the disorder is far more common in women than in men. After obtaining research in children and teens we see the frequency of BPD in 9-19 years of age is about 11%. This study or theory also proves that BPD occurs more often in girls than in boys. Borderline Personality Disorder can be triggered or caused in many different ways. Some people suffer from BPD due to a disturbing childhood experience. Studies show this disorder could even be genetic. There are numerous reasons why a child, teen, adult can develop traits and eventually suffer from BPD. Many patients tell or report abuse or neglect during childhood or some pivotal time in their life. The most common abuse reported tends to be sexual abuse as a child. Forty to seventy percent of patients with Borderline Personality Disorder, who suffered abuse as a child, claim the abuse was sexual in nature. Other important causes revolve around family neglect, foster care, or trauma. BPD patients have an increased fear of losing a primary attachment figure. With higher awareness of BPD, we now know this disorder’s high personal, social, and economic toll make it a national public health

Borderline Personality Disorder presents itself as an inability to control mood shifts, coupled with hostility and a chaotic relationships. Those suffering from Borderline Personality disorder seem to bounce from one crisis to the next, moving through exaggerated emotions. While the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder can be seen in early adolescents, most grow out of those behaviors, those who go into adulthood with the unstable mood shifts, confused mental state are the ones who are diagnosed with the disorder. Borderline Personality Disorder follows three core symptoms; negative emotions, antagonism, and disinhibition. These symptoms are typically followed by self-harm (cutting) and even more harmful, suicide.

Abstract: This paper will discuss the causes and psychological impact of borderline personality disorder. It will also talk about how to treat those impacted by borderline personality disorder.

“Personality disorders have been documented in approximately 9 percent of the general U.S. population” (Angstman, Rasmussen, 2011). Emotional dysregulation disorder or its common name borderline personality disorder is a very serious and chronic disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) describes borderline personality disorder as “a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts” (Gardner, 2006). Within the last 20 years, psychologists and other mental health professionals have made tremendous strides in research on what exactly borderline personality disorder, some of its triggers and possible effective treatment options. Borderline personality disorder is defined as a disorder that generates severe emotional instability which can be a springboard that can lead to other stress induced mental and behavioral problems.

Assessment of the patient with borderline personality disorder is inclusive of the patient's: (1) physical; (2) emotional; (3) cognitive; (4) social; and (5) spiritual characteristics. These are assessed based on the patient's: (1) subjective reports; (2) interview records; and (3) behavioral

A psychodynamic theory analyzes the early parental relationships that can explain the underlying causes for Borderline Personality disorder (Gabbard, 2010). Psychodynamic theory can explain the early childhood experiences of Estelle and parents that cause and shape her personality. At an early age, she felt unappreciated and that her school accomplishments were not valued. She believes that her parents only gave her attention if she did something wrong and she always felt that her dad favored her brother. These early on-set emotions emphasized on her unconscious forces that guided her behavior in non-suicidal attempts to attract attention from her parents. Psychotherapy can allow Estelle to find an understanding to her problematic ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving towards herself and the relationships she has with others (Nelson, K. J., et

Borderlines have problems with their mood. Their mood is not manic, but alternates between normal and flat to moderate or severe depression (Livesley 150). These individuals also go through periods of intense anger that can interfere with effective social functioning. Persons with borderline personality disorder are very vulnerable, and usually over-react to stress. These individuals usually form unstable and intense 'love-hate' relationships, either a person or situation is "all-good", or if any problems occur, "all-bad'" (Durand 273). "The borderline's anger usually alienates a relationship yet the borderline will make frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment" (Burger 299). People with BPD angrily fear the abandonment of their friend or loved one and have episodic angry outbursts in fear that the person might abandon him or her. Recent research has shown that medications can significantly relieve the suffering of borderline patients when used in combination with psychotherapy (Livesley 145).

Likewise, the author read that Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is described as instability in interpersonal relationship, self-image and mood, a fast fluctuation between emotional states, impulsive behaviour and an inclination towards self-harm and suicidal thinking (NICE 2009).

After reading the DSM IV’s definition, the true meaning of borderline personality disorder still wasn’t clear. Excluding fancy words, the

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition, Borderline personality disorder is described as having a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, affects, and marked impulsivity that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts. In order to be diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, the individual must demonstrate five or more of the nine behaviors experienced within the disorder. The nine criterion behaviors within the disorder include: (1) frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, (2) a pattern of unstable and intense relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation, (3) identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self, (4) impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self damaging such as sexuality, spending, substance abuse, binge eating or reckless driving, (5) recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, threats, or self mutilating behavior, (6) affective

Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) include a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and is marked impulsivity. BPD begins in early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts. Alice Klieg displays 6 of

The history of BPD can be traced back to 1938 when Adolph Stern first described the symptoms of the disorder as neither being psychotic nor psychoneurotic; hence, the term ‘borderline’ was introduced (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2009, p. 15). Then in 1960, Otto Kernberg coined the term ‘borderline personality organization’ to describe persistent patterns of behavior and functioning consisting of instability, and distressed psychological self-organization (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2009, p. 15).

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is characterized by fluctuation of self-image, lack of stable interpersonal relationships and pronounced and unpredictable impulsivity. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (2013) also lists fear of abandonment, suicidal or self-harming behaviors, intense or inappropriate anger that is difficult to control as well as paranoid ideation or dissociative symptoms. Morcos and Morcos (2016) wrote that patients with BPD are often misdiagnosed with other trauma related disorders, such as PTSD, depression or bipolar disorder. According to Beatson, et al. (2016) there are additional issues in diagnosing older patients, as the criteria indicates that symptoms would have been seen early in the patient’s life, not later. Beatson, et al. (2016) also noted that there is a considerable lack of studies and literature concerning BPD in older patients, making the diagnostic process more difficult. In this case study we will be working with an older patient, one that was well into midlife before Borderline Personality Disorder was included in the DSM, to see if she fits the criteria for BPD and what treatment options might be available.

A specific definition of borderline personality disorder can be found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The manual groups this personality disorder under the Cluster B personality disorders, and summarizes it as “a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts…” (DSM-5 663). There are nine criteria addressed in the manual, and five of them need to be met in order to diagnose