Borderline Personality Disorders: A 2005 Study

Psychiatric research on Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has increased in popularity over the past few decades. It was included into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (Third Edition) in 1980. Over the years, professionals have found dramatically effective treatments for a disorder that was once considered disabling. Even though Borderline Personality Disorder can be hard to treat, it’s usually comorbid with other disorders like depression and anxiety. Throughout this paper, I will be focusing on background information, symptoms, and treatments of Borderline Personality Disorder.

These senses of invalidation from the therapist often cause clients to withdraw from therapy, or attack the therapist. Secondly, it was extremely difficult for clinicians to teach and strengthen new skills at the same time as they are targeting and treating the client’s motivation to die and suicidal behaviors that appeared in the previous week. Finally, therapist may be reinforced for iatrogenic treatment, where they reward clients for ineffective treatment strategies and punish them for effective treatment strategies. To address these difficulties, Linehan developed several modifications which formed the basis of DBT. (Dimeff & Linehan, Dialectical behavior therapy in a nutshell, 2001)

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders(DSM-5,2013), "Borderline Personality Disorder (301.83) is a pervasive pattern of volatility of interpersonal relations, self image, and affect, and marked impulsivity, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of context" (p. 663). Concurrent disorders associated with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) are depressive and bipolar disorders and substance use disorders, eating disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders. BPD also commonly co-occurs with other personality disorders. These disorders have a high co-morbidity. The incidence of BPD

The main feature of borderline personality disorder is the pervasive pattern of unstable relationships, self-image, and impulsiveness. Borderline personality disorder begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of situations. A person with borderline personality disorder will make major efforts to avoid any situation of abandonment. There are many symptoms that go along with having borderline personality disorder. Some examples would include: intense fears of abandonment, intense anger and irritability, impulsive and risky behavior, and wide mood swings. Self-harm, suicidal behavior and substance intoxication are very common in people with borderline personality disorder. A person with BPD experiences emotions in different ways than

4) Gunderson, J. G. (2011). Borderline personality disorder. The New England Journal of Medicine, 364(21), 2037-2042. Retrieved from https://ez.salem.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/869106178?accountid=13657

Borderline personality disorder is a personality disorder that has just recently become recognized. Borderline disorder is characterized by impulsive actions, instability in daily life and relationships, and negative self-image. Other signs and symptoms of the disorder include self-harm, emotion dysregulation, and suicidal ideation. The literature was reviewed to find the relationship between substance use and borderline personality disorder, and the best type of treatment for those with borderline personality disorder and substance use. Research has reported that impulsive behaviors may be one of the

Finally, therapist may be reinforced for iatrogenic treatment, where they reward clients for ineffective treatment strategies and punish them for effective treatment strategies. To address these difficulties, Linehan developed several modifications which formed the basis of DBT. (Dimeff & Linehan, Dialectical behavior therapy in a nutshell, 2001)

Contributing factors of this disorder is suicide rates. One in ten people with BPD commit suicide. Self-injury, such as cutting was reported to express anger, punish oneself, and as a way to distract oneself. Suicide attempts were reported to be intended to make others better off, and relieve themselves from their feelings. (PsycINFO Database Record, 2012)

DBT is a structural approach to counseling that incorporates several therapy approaches to include: cognitive behavioral therapy, client-centered, psychodynamic, gestalt, paradoxical and strategic. The combination of these approaches is incorporated by four empirically supported techniques designed by Dr. Marsha Linehan.

Though several personality disorders are highly complex and a challenge to treat, there are effective treatments available (“Treating Borderline” 1). The various treatments are broken down by method, the first of which being cognitive behavioral therapy, which attempts to alter the conscious thoughts and behavioral patterns of patients (Daniel); (“Treating Borderline” 2). Cognitive behavior therapy itself is broken down into two therapies, dialectical behavioral therapy and schema-focused therapy (“Treating Borderline” 2). Dialectical behavioral therapy, developed by Dr. Linehan, is centered on the basis that personality disorders are formed when hypersensitive patients are in situations which lack the emotional support they require, therefore leading to their “inability to regulate emotions” (“Treating Borderline” 2). Thus, the treatment serves to help the patient gain control over their emotion and behavior (“Treating Borderline” 2). The treatment itself consists of group and individual sessions and typically lasts approximately one year (“Treating Borderline” 2). During the group sessions, patients learn to become more aware of their behaviors and emotions through sessions pertaining to “problem solving, mindfulness meditation, and breath training“(“Treating Borderline” 2). In personal sessions, referred to as psychotherapy, the psychiatrist explains to the patient how the lessons from the group therapy sessions are applicable

DBT is typically used to treat adults with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). This treatment method involves multiple components: skills training, individual therapy, consultation between client and therapist outside of the session, and team meetings between the therapists involved (Overview). There have been previous adaptions of DBT that have been found effective n treating adolescents (Overview). DBT is typically used to treat adults since symptoms of BPD don’t

Becky experiences many of the criteria for borderline personality disorder. The first she describes is her need for physical contact, which exemplifies the fear of abandonment expressed in many of those with BPD, and she describes this need for contact as overwhelming and constant. The feelings that this need create in her, and the feelings after not having this need met, lead her to cut herself. Self-injury is another symptom evident in those with the disorder. Becky has unstable interpersonal relationships which are further damaged by her intense emotional outbursts. Lastly, she describes herself as having no secure identity.

The patient in question is an eighteen year old female. She was emitted for a seventy two hour psychiatric hold after attempting to take her own life. Amanda is overall driven human being, she did well in high school, and works full time. However, Amanda does not have plans after high school, or any other foreseeable future. She cannot decide on a career path, or whether or not to go to further her education.

trial of DBT skills training compared to standard group therapy for the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (Chugani, Ghali, and Brunner, 2013). The study found that there was a significantly lower dropout rate as well as greater reductions in depression and general psychiatric in subjects receiving DBT skills training.

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).