Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a condition marked by intense emotional instability and difficulty in managing one's emotions. Individuals with BPD often experience extreme mood swings, have a fragile sense of self, and struggle with intense fears of abandonment. They may engage in impulsive behaviors and have unstable relationships. BPD can lead to significant challenges in daily functioning and maintaining stable relationships.

Cluster B disorders refers to a group of personality disorders characterized by erratic, and emotional behavior.  Borderline personality disorder can be characterized by emotional dysregulation, problems with identity and self-image, interpersonal challenges.

Symptoms

  • Emotional dysregulation
  • Fear of abandonment
  • Unstable relationships
  • Impulsive behavior
  • Identity disturbance
  • Dissociation
  • Self-Harm
  • Shifting self-image
  • Anger outbursts

Prevalence

Approximately 1-2% of the general population is estimated to have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). This disorder is more commonly diagnosed in females, with women accounting for nearly 75% of BPD diagnoses. BPD often emerges during adolescence or early adulthood and can even be diagnosed before the age of 18 if symptoms are pervasive and not limited to a certain developmental stage.

Prognosis

The prognosis for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can vary depending on various factors, including the individual's commitment to treatment, the presence of co-occurring conditions, the level of social support, and the quality of therapeutic interventions. Many individuals with BPD can experience improvement in their symptoms and their overall functioning and life quality with appropriate treatment and support.

When to seek help

Experiencing severe emotional distress, having suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-harming and self-destructive behaviors may indicate that you need professional assistance. It's important to remember that persistent patterns of fluctuating self-image, moods, and behaviors should also be taken into consideration. Seeking help can be beneficial in understanding and addressing these issues. Lastly, we know that sometimes people tend to read symptoms associated with a certain disorder and claim that “I do that, I have this etc.”. When this happens, just remember that these symptoms have to be recurrent, persistent, and affect everyday job tasks greatly. They are rare and chronic, but help is always the answer.

Treatment

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy: DBT is one of the most effective treatments for BPD. DBT enables clients to learn coping skills for managing emotions such as anger, self-destructive behaviors, and improving interpersonal relationships. DBT incorporates various techniques such as: mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and self-validation.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: CBT can help clients with borderline personality disorder identify and challenge core beliefs that lead to negative behavior. CBT can also provide coping skills to help individuals effectively manage symptoms associated with BPD.  
  • Schema-Focused Therapy: This therapy targets the underlying schemas (deeply ingrained patterns of thought and belief) that contribute to BPD symptoms. It helps individuals identify and challenge maladaptive schemas and develop healthier coping strategies.