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Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Borderline personality disorder or BPD is a personality disorder that is primarily characterized as a irregular emotion. People with this condition will typically see things in extremely black and white while at the same time have very turbulent relationships.

Origins of BPD

The name of BPD was created when psychologists believed it was a condition between the psychosis and neurosis. However, today psychologists realize it is a condition in which people have unregulated emotions.

Symptoms and Signs

There is a wide variety of symptoms and signs associated with borderline personality disorder and many of the symptoms and signs can be very vague. Some of the common symptoms and signs include the following:

• Physical complaints such as headaches, abdominal pain or malaise.
• Physical instability such as cold hands, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Some may demonstrate false illness which can often lead to an overuse of medical resources.
• As a person is about to achieve a goal they undermine themselves.
• Some will experience psychotic type features and usually this is during times of stress.
• Some people will have a history of self-mutilation or suicide attempts.
• Some will also have a history of substance abuse.

Often times those who suffer from borderline personality disorder will also have other physical disorders such as an eating disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, premenstrual tension, dissociative disorder or anxiety disorder.

Complications of BPD

If someone suffers from borderline personality disorder then some of the common complications they may experience include the following:

• An interruption in education.
• Loss of jobs or frequent job changes.
• Financial problems and possibly even bankruptcy.
• Interrupted relationships and broken marriages.
• Possible physical handicaps if there is self-inflicted abuse involved in the condition.
• In severe cases there is premature death as a result of suicide.

Misconceptions of BPD

There are several conditions that can often be mistaken for borderline personality disorder. Most often your doctor will try to eliminate the likelihood of one of these disorders before making a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder.

• Mood disorders.
• Disorders related to substance abuse.
• Panic attacks or anxiety disorders.
• Any eating disorder but particularly bulimia.
• Any post-traumatic stress disorders.
• Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.

Occurrence of BPD

Borderline personality disorder is less known than schizophrenia and bipolar disorder which are two that can be similar to borderline personality disorder. However, borderline personality disorder has been found to be more common than these other personality disorders. Two percent of people are effected by borderline personality disorder and of these most are young women. Recent studies have shown that there may be a connection between childhood abuse and a development of borderline personality disorder later on in life. Many who have borderline personality disorder will have a history of self-injury but often do not have suicidal intent. However, in severe cases there will be repeated suicide attempts. About eight to ten percent of BPD patients will make suicide attempts.

Treatment of BPD

Treating of BPD aims to provide a stabilization of the condition along with situational support so self-injury and suicides can be prevented while at the same time improving a persons function, this is the short term goal. The long term goal of BPD treatment is to consistently enhance the psychosocial functioning and stress tolerance of an individual suffering from BPD.

Types of Treatment

Diet and lifestyle is used to help control BPD symptoms. Most of the time it is best to eliminate or at least significantly reduce the use of recreational drugs and alcohol. A person should develop a healthy diet along with a regular work and leisure routine. It is also encouraged that a person should have a good sleep regime.
Diet and lifestyle is often accompanied by pharmacological treatment. Doctors will often prescribe drugs that can help stabilize the mood of the patients, decrease their impulse and improve their cognitive functions.

Personality Disorders

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Dependent Personality Disorder

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Personality Disorder NOS

Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

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