Borderline Personality Theory

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

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious psychiatric illness. People that are diagnosed with this disorder suffer from an intense pattern of affective instability, extreme difficulties in interpersonal relationships, problems with behavioral or impulse control, and disrupted cognitive processes. The estimated prevalence of BPD in the general adult population is about 2%, mostly affecting young women.

Borderline Personality Disorder is a mental disorder characterized by instability in mood, impulsiveness, unstable relationships, and chronic emptiness. Borderline Personality Disorder affects approximately two percent of the population, and is predominately found in women. This disorder makes it difficult for people to understand social norms and the dynamics of relationships, so unpredictable and erratic behavior are common. Although Borderline Personality Disorder is incurable, it is treatable through talk therapy and medication. (Friedel, 2004, p. 2)

Borderline Personality Disorder was first listed in the DSM in 1980. It is classified as a cluster B personality disorder. Before then it was unsure if it was a disorder on its own, if it only coexisted with other disorders, or only mocked other disorders. Most people suffering from BPD have problems regulating emotions and thoughts, have impulsive and reckless behavior, and have unstable relations with others. High rates of comorbidity occur with this disorder including; depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and eating disorders.

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

Predisposing factors: Borderline personality disorder is a disorder that is characterized by a persons impulsive and/ reckless behavior, poor self-image, self-injury, emotional fluctuations, unstable relationships. There are links that suggest it could be caused by genetic and environmental factors, but it is still being studied. A person that is part of a community or culture with unstable upbringing can increase the risk for this disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, 2014). A childhood with physical and sexual abuse was often linked to people with BPD. It was more-so found to be linked with any neglect as a child (Am J Psychiatry, 1997 ). 6 to 10 million people are affected by borderline personality disorder. 75-90% of people with BPD are women (Borderline Personality Resource Center, 2012).

9.6 percent of the United States population have a mental disorder and 1.6 percent have borderline personality disorder. Borderline personality disorder is a mental illness that shows symtoms of not being able to regulate emotional responses and moods, impacting self image, relationships and behavior (National Institute of Mental Health,2016). The National Institute of Mental Health states that borderline personality disorder is experienced in a person when they are overwhelmed with emotions in the cognitive functioning. Symptoms of a person with borderline personality disorder could include explosive amount of anger, depression, and anxiety. People with borderline personality disorder could also have other mental disorders such as mood

Borderline Personality disorder is one of the most commonly diagnosed and functionally disabling mental disorders. The central characteristic of this disorder is impulsivity and instability in mood, relationships and self-image. People who suffer with borderline personality disorder usually experience severe feelings of depression, emptiness, and intense fear of abandonment. They also engage in destructive behaviors such as sexual promiscuity, drinking, gambling, and eating sprees. These people may also attempt suicide and sometimes engage in self-mutilation. Those with Borderline personality disorder seek approval and acceptance where ever they go; they might also irrupt in anger at any sign or disapproval. This disorder is usually marked by a long

“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.

Borderline personality disorder is a complicated personality disorder. A client with borderline personality disorder will have severe impairments impacting their daily lives (Halter, 2014, p. 470). This personality disorder is the most well-known and also the most dramatic. These clients will experience intense and rapid mood changes, and will have trouble regulating their emotions (O'Connell & Dowling, 2013). As with most mental health disorders, there is no known cause for a client to develop borderline personality disorder. However, there are some factors that can increase the risk. These include genetics, brain abnormalities, and environmental factors including child abuse or neglect (Mayo Clinic,

Current psychological research on personality disorders aims to identify psychological and psychopathologic dynamics latent to violent behaviors. In

In Lieb et al.’s (2004) article, they discuss Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and how various patients are affected by this disorder. The clinical signs for BPD consist of persistent pattern of instability in emotional dysregulation, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and impulse control. For those with this disorder, self-abuse is common secondary to emotional pain and can sometimes lead to suicidal tendencies. Traumatic childhood events, genetic factors, and neurobiological factors are found to be developmental causes for BPD. However, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and hospital programs are found to be effective treatments for patients as well as medication treatment to help reduce depression, anxiety, and impulsive aggression

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious and complex mental disorder involving maladaptive behaviors and multiple symptoms. This disorder often occurs in the context of relationships and can have a chaotic effect not only on the individual with BPD but also on their loved ones. According to the NIMH, “borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness characterized by unstable moods, behavior, and relationship”.9 A primary character of BPD is behavioral and emotional dysregulation. These behaviors are difficult

Borderline personality disorder is defined as a mental illness that involves unstable moods, behavior and relationships. There are many other symptoms of borderline personality disorder, some of which include intense irritability, elevated levels of fear, and anger. The etiology of BPD is unknown, but through a number of different studies it is believed that it can be caused by genetics, environmental factors, and/or brain abnormalities. Scientists continue to study genes that help regulate both emotions as well as impulse control for possible links to BPD.

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).