Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) (Collection: Mental Health )

Borderline personality disorder is a disorder of relating to others and to self. Persons diagnosed with borderline personality disorder display "a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects (feelings), and marked impulsiveness beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts..." (DSM-IV). Persons with BPD tend to have difficulty understanding themselves, other people, and the nature of the relationships they have with other people. They tend to see themselves as fairly worthless and empty inside, or to not really "know" who they are. They tend to use the defense mechanism known as splitting a lot, and to see others (and themselves) in a very black or white, good or bad sort of way. They are typically emotionally unstable (labile), and frequently will have outbursts of anger or depression, alternating rapidly with good feelings about themselves. As you might imagine, they have intensive relationships that do not tend to last very long. BPD persons are also very impulsive and frequently cannot or do not stop themselves from acting out in self-destructive ways (spending money they don't have, abusing drugs and alcohol, binge eating, sexual promiscuity, etc.). They are also prone to feelings of suicidality. Some BPD persons (not all) engage in 'cutting' behaviors where they cut or burn their skin - not to kill themselves - but rather to self-punish or to have a sense of control over their internal chaos or to feel the sensation and know that they are indeed alive (and not just empty inside). There are treatments for BPD that are proven effective, not as a 100% cure, but in alleviating some of the suffering these people go through. The best studied form of psychotherapy, (Dialectical Behavior Therapy or DBT; Marsha Linehan, Ph.D) is known to be helpful, as are some psychiatric medications. See the Personality Disorders center for more information.

Search again?