Borderline Personality Disorder
(Double click on any word on this page for definition)
What is a personality Disorder?
By the DSM-IV (the diagnostic manual), a personality disorder is an inflexible, persistent pattern of inner experience or behavior that leads to significant distress or dysfunction. The 'significant distress or dysfunction' is what makes it a 'disorder.'
What causes someone to develop a personality disorder?
There are many ideas on that, but they basically could be summarized as contributions from genetics and environment. There is evidence that personality is somewhat genetically related. And our environment--our interactions with other people, trauma, the general adaptiveness and type of our environment growing up. So it is both genetics and environment. That is a global answer, the particulars also depend on the disorder. We need an environment, too, that is adaptive for our human needs like safety and attachment to caregivers.
Cluster A.
Odd and eccentric disorders.
1.) Paranoid personality disorder.
Characterized by a pattern of distrust and suspiciousness such
that others motives are perceived as malevolent.2.) Schizoid personality disorder.
A pattern of detachment from social relationships
and a restricted range of emotional expression.3.) Schizotypal personality disorder.
A pattern of acute discomfort in close relationships,
cognitive or perceptual distortions, and eccentricities of behavior.
Cluster B.Dramatic and emotional personality disorder
1.) Antisocial personality disorder.
A patter of disregard for, and violation of,
the rights of other people.2.) Borderline personality disorder.
A pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships,
self-image and impulsivity.3.) Histrionic personality disorder.
A pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking.
4.) Narcissistic personality disorder.
A pattern of loving oneself, need for admiration
and lack of empathy.Cluster C.
Anxious and fearful personality disorder
1.) Avoidant personality disorder.
A pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy,
and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.2.) Dependent personality disorder.
A pattern of submissive and clinging behavior
related to an excessive need to be taken care of.3.) Obsessive compulsive personality disorder.
A pattern of preoccupation with orderliness,
perfectionism, and control.
Borderline Personality Disorder
BPD is characterized by impulsivity & by instability in mood,
self-image, & personal relationships.
It is fairly common & is diagnosed more often
in females than males.
Its somewhat awkward name derives from early observations of
individuals with some features in common with neurotic conditions but
others typical of psychotic disorders. Hence, they were thought to occupy a
"border" between neurosis and psychosis.
Symptoms
Individuals with BPD have several of the following symptoms:
1. Marked mood swings with periods of intense depression,
irritability &/or anxiety lasting a few hours to a few days.
2. Inappropriate, intense, or uncontrolled anger.
3. Impulsiveness in spending, sex, substance use,
shoplifting, reckless driving, or binge eating.
4. Recurring suicidal threats or self-injurious behavior.
5. Unstable, intense personal relationships with extreme,
black & white views of people &
experiences, sometimes alternating between
"all good" idealization & "all bad" devaluation.
6. Marked persistent uncertainty about self-image,
long term goals, friendships, values.
7. Chronic boredom or feelings of emptiness.
8. Frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, either real or imagined.
BPD CentralA collection of resources for people who care
about someone with Borderline Personality Disorder.
Click Here
There is no "pure" BPD; it coexists with other illnesses.
These are the most common
BPD may coexist with:
Post traumatic stress disorder
Mood disorders
Panic/anxiety disorders
Substance abuse
(54% of BPs also have a problem with substance abuse)
Gender identity disorder
Attention deficit disorder
Eating disorders
Multiple personality disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
In the past, research has focused on the underlying causes of this disorder. Although no one cause has been proven as of yet,several factors appear to contribute. Researchers consistently find a higher rate of sexual abuse in borderline patients. Some may be victims of incest, while others have suffered some form of sexual abuse. Prior physical and verbal abuse also appears linked to occurrences.While some research has attributed the cause to parental failure,studies suggest that blaming the parents is an over simplification. Borderline sufferers appear to have inborn difficulties that affect brain functioning. With testing, they are consistently found to have higher rates of neuropsychological abnormalities. In addition, studies point to a problem with the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin can be viewed as the "brakes" of the central nervous system. In other words, normal levels of this brain chemical inhibit impulsive aggression directed either at oneself or other people. Low levels of serotonin appear related to more impulsive and destructive behavior. Serotonin also contributes to depression.
The following advice has been given by people who survive with this disorder:
1.Accept the responsibility for managing your illness.
2.Develop strategies to combat self-destructive impulses.
3.Express emotions through words, not actions.
4.Despite fear and anxiety, be honest and confront your issues in therapy.
5.Avoid isolating yourself and stay connected to
friends for social and emotional support.
6.Make a written schedule every day so your time is structured.
7.Attend therapy, social outings and work as scheduled.
8.If medication has been prescribed, take it as directed.
9.Eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly.
10.Be patient with yourself by setting clear, realistic goals.
11.Find a balance between therapy, work and fun.
12.Remember that you can't always change the way you feel,
but you can always change what you do about it.
Recomended Books
Stop Walking On Egg Shells;
Coping When Someone You Love Has BPD
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