Taking a Look at Borderline Personality Disorder

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

A personality disorder is characterized by a distinct pattern of behavior that does not meet normal standards of behavior within one’s culture. This pattern is ingrained as the norm to the person affected, and the characteristics of the affected person deviate markedly from societal standards (Hebblethwaite, 2009). The two main features that help to identify a personality disorder are chronic interpersonal difficulties and persons with one’s identity or sense of self (Livesly, 2001). Within this set of mental health disorders lie several other subsets, including one of the most prominent personality disorders - Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). BPD is a severe, long-lasting disorder that has an incidence of occurrence approximately equal to that of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia combined (Grant, Chou, Goldstein et al., 2008). BPD also puts those affected at risk for damage in many areas of their life if not properly diagnosed and treated, including personal relationships, school, work, and self-imagine. Furthermore, this disorder has a high co-morbidity with other disorders such as depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, and social phobia, among many more (Hebblethwaite, 2009). Misdiagnosis of borderline personality disorder can have serious clinical implications. This paper looks to identify the risk factors associated with BPD, the affects on various aspects of the person’s life, treatments, and give recommendations as to how to properly identify and

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

6) MacIntosh, H. B., Godbout, N., & Dubash, N. (2015). Borderline personality disorder: Disorder of trauma or personality, a review of the empirical literature. Canadian Psychology, 56(2), 227-241. Retrieved from

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

What is Borderline Personality Disorder? Is heredity the cause or is it a person’s surrounding environment? What are its effects? Are there any treatments available for it? Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD is a serious illness that causes a person to experience instability in moods, exhibit impulsive, quite often aggressive, behavior and creates severe self-worth issues. BPD is usually not a “stand alone” illness and typically is accompanied by other disorders such as Dysthymia, Bipolar Disorder and Substance Abuse. Although BPD can be extremely dangerous to those affected by it and those surrounded by them, it is quite often not given enough attention or taken as serious as it should be. As well, BPD is commonly misdiagnosed as

According to SAMSHA, early detections and interventions are possible to detect in children and adolescents and if treated early the likelihood of successful treatment is high. If BPD can be seen is children and adolescents I propose the idea of educating guidance counselors, teachers, and staff members on a training of the signs of Borderline Personality Disorder and recommending parents and caregivers of these children to seek counseling to find out the diagnosis, also educate the parents on the particular signs and if there is any knowledge of family members with this disorder. There has been controversy between researchers upon actually diagnosing BPD among adolescents. According to Kaess et al (2014) there are four reasons for the controversy, one side states that BPD isn’t effective in adolescent years. Second, the features of BPD are consider normal in adolescents. Third, in adolescent years children have an instability in personality which professionals see that as hard to distinguish between growing through adolescent years

What's more, BPD is often overlooked as one of the typical rocky, transitional periods when your child is struggling to develop an identity and shoulder adult responsibility. You find yourself wondering

“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.

Amad et al. used quantitative research by analyzing data to figure percentages and likely hood of borderline personality disorder running in families. Amad et al. choose patients 18 years or older with borderline personality disorder, the diagnostics were made according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual criteria. Meta-analyses, a method for combining study data from multiple studies, was performed if two or more studies

“Borderline personality disorder accounts for 30–60% of all personality disorders, and is present in approximately 2% of the general population. The disorder appears to affect women more than men, and 75% of all diagnosed patients are female” (Ford-Martin).

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).

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) affects about 4% of the general population, and at least 20% of the clinical psychiatric population. (Kernberg and Michels, 2009) In the clinical psychiatric population, about 75% of those with the disorder are women. BPD is also significantly heritable, with 42-68% of the variance associated

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).