Borderline Personality Disorder

Also known as BPD
Topics
Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment Living With BPD
    Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a disorder of mood and how a person interacts with others. It's the most commonly recognised personality disorder.

    In general, someone with a personality disorder will differ significantly from an average person in terms of how he or she thinks, perceives, feels or relates to others.

    The symptoms of BPD can be grouped into 4 main areas:

emotional instability – the psychological term for this is affective dysregulation

disturbed patterns of thinking or perception – cognitive distortions or perceptual distortions

impulsive behaviour

intense but unstable relationships with others

    The symptoms of a personality disorder may range from mild to severe and usually emerge in adolescence, persisting into adulthood.

Causes of borderline personality disorder (BPD)
    The causes of BPD are unclear. BPD appears to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

    People with BPD come from many different backgrounds, but most will have experienced some kind of trauma or neglect as children.

Associated mental health problems
    Many people with BPD also have another mental health condition or behavioural problem, such as:

misusing alcohol

generalised anxiety disorder

bipolar disorder

depression

misusing drugs

an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia

another personality disorder, such as antisocial personality disorder

    BPD can be a serious condition, and many people with the condition self-harm and attempt suicide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Although the exact cause of BPD is unknown, researchers believe that genetic, biological, and environmental factors play a role in this complex disorder. For instance, there is strong evidence that childhood trauma such as abuse and neglect may be associated with BPD.

Learn More: Causes of BPD

Similar to many other psychiatric disorders, there is evidence that BPD is highly heritable. People who have a first-degree relative with BPD have an increased risk of developing the condition, but this fact does not guarantee they will be diagnosed.

Learn More: Genetic Causes of BPD

To diagnose someone with BPD, mental health clinicians ascertain if a person has displayed five or more of the criteria for BPD such as emotional instability, impulsive behavior, unstable self-image, inappropriate anger, idealization and devaluation in relationships, suicidal or self-harming behaviors, transient stress related paranoid ideation or dissociative symptoms.

Learn More: Criteria for Diagnosis of BPD

In most cases, BPD is treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy. However, there are times when a person with BPD may be hospitalized to protect themselves and others. There are several evidence based psychotherapies often used in the treatment of BPD including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT), and Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP).

Learn More: Treatment Options for BPD

Key Terms

Mental Illness
A mental illness is often diagnosed when a person experiences disturbances in their thought patterns, feelings, or behaviors. Typically, these disturbances impact a person’s life by causing distress for them at work, at school, or in their relationships and activities.

Learn more: Understanding Mental Illness
Psychological Evaluation
A psychological evaluation consists of a series of interviews, tests, and assessments to measure a person’s behaviors, thoughts, and emotions and help mental health professionals arrive at a diagnosis.1 These evaluations are also used to help guide a person’s treatment.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
DBT is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy designed to teach people how to live with the intense and challenging emotions that accompany BPD. Developed in the late 1980s, DBT helps people learn how to regulate their emotions and behaviors, improve their relationships, and develop mindful ways of coping with stress.

Learn more: How Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Works
Mentalization-Based Therapy
MBT is an evidence-based treatment option for people with BPD in which they learn how to engage in mentalizing. Mentalizing, which involves being able to separate one's emotional state from that of others, helps people with BPD learn how to think before they react to their emotions or the perceived feelings of others.2
Transference-Focused Psychotherapy
TFP is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach for people with BPD. It uses the idea of transference—the concept that people will bring their problematic emotional reactions into the therapy relationship itself.3 The therapist utilizes these interactions to bring attention to aspects of the patient's mind they may not be fully aware of. This can lead to potential emotional and relationship growth.

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More In Topics

Neurodivergence
Phobias
Anxiety
Kids' Mental Health
Addiction
ADHD
Eating Disorders
Bipolar Disorder
BPD
Neurological Disorders
PTSD
OCD
Panic Disorder
Schizophrenia