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Borderline Personality Disorder

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What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder is a condition in which a person makes impulsive actions, and has an unstable mood and chaotic relationships.



Alternative names

Personality disorder - borderline



Causes

Personality disorders are long-term (chronic) patterns of behavior that negatively affect relationships and work. The cause of borderline personality disorder (BPD) is unknown. People with BPD are impulsive in areas that have a potential for self-harm, such as drug use, drinking, and other risk-taking behaviors. Risk factors for BPD include: Abandonment in childhood or adolescence Disrupted family life Poor communication in the family Sexual abuse This personality disorder tends to o...



Add to my favorites

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder is a condition in which a person makes impulsive actions, and has an unstable mood and chaotic relationships.

Add to my favorites

Alternative names

Personality disorder - borderline

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Causes

Personality disorders are long-term (chronic) patterns of behavior that negatively affect relationships and work. The cause of borderline personality disorder (BPD) is unknown. People with BPD are impulsive in areas that have a potential for self-harm, such as drug use, drinking, and other risk-taking behaviors.

Risk factors for BPD include:

  • Abandonment in childhood or adolescence
  • Disrupted family life
  • Poor communication in the family
  • Sexual abuse

This personality disorder tends to occur more often in women and among hospitalized psychiatric patients.

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Symptoms & Signs

Relationships with others are intense and unstable. They swing wildly from love to hate and back again. People with BPD will frantically try to avoid real or imagined abandonment.

BPD patients may also be uncertain about their identity or self-image. They tend to see things in terms of extremes, either all good or all bad. They also typically view themselves as victims of circumstance and take little responsibility for themselves or their problems.

Other symptoms include:

  • Feelings of emptiness and boredom
  • Frequent displays of inappropriate anger
  • Impulsiveness with money, substance abuse, sexual relationships, binge eating, or shoplifting
  • Intolerance of being alone
  • Recurrent acts of crisis such as wrist cutting, overdosing, or self-injury (such as cutting)
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Exams and Tests

Personality disorders are diagnosed based on psychological evaluation and the history and severity of the symptoms.

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Treatments

Group therapy can help change self-destructive behaviors. Having peers reinforce appropriate behaviors may be more successful than one-on-one counseling, because people with this condition often have difficulty with authority figures, which can prevent them from learning.

Medications can help level mood swings and treat depression or other disorders that may occur with this condition.

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Prognosis

Borderline personality disorder has a poor outlook because people often do not comply with treatment.

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Possible Complications

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When to contact a medical professional

Call your health care provider if you or your child is has symptoms of borderline personality disorder.

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References

Moore DP, Jefferson JW. Borderline personality disorder. In: Moore DP, Jefferson JW, eds. Handbook of Medical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2004: chap 138.

Montandon M, Feldman MD. Borderline personality disorder. In: Ferri FF, ed. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2008: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2008.

Content provided by:

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2008 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Review Date: 10/17/2008

Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Timothy A. Rogge, MD, private practice in Psychiatry, Kirkland, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.10/17/2008

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      ...ok "Skills Training for Borderline Personality Disorder." It will help you. Read More

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      ...art of having BPD is being a passionate person - which we have to learn to embrace, and utilize in constructive, creative ways. There is a quote from Khalil Gibran that really puts it well (I re... Read More

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    • Posted On January 2, 2008 10:24:31 PM

      ...lked about, men are also susceptible to disordered eating and body image. A Few Facts 1% to 5% of all men have seriously unhealthy eating behaviors that would qualify as eating disorders. Th... Read More

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      ...s become excessive and interfere with a person’s health and ability to function on a day-to-day basis, it may indicate the presence of an eating disorder. Starvation can have serious short-... Read More

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    • Posted On February 18, 2008 06:00:34 PM

      ...actPlus&list_uids=11775043:2k033g3z]borderline personality disorder too. [url=http://www.crazymeds.us/topamax.html:2k033g3z]Topamax, topiramate is an anti-convulsant/moo... Read More

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    • Posted On November 24, 2007 05:44:07 PM

      ...actPlus&list_uids=11775043:1hntgsvy]borderline personality disorder too. [url=http://www.crazymeds.us/topamax.html:1hntgsvy]Topamax, topiramate is an anti-convulsant/moo... Read More

    • Posted On November 24, 2007 08:16:39 PM

      ... cymbalta- antidepressant for my eating disorder. and also seroquel, to treat "eating disorder thoughts". I'm about to start lexapro. Read More

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    • Posted On May 26, 2009 12:30:35 PM

      ...e easy. ADHD can be a very challenging disorder, but having a supportive mother such as yourself will definitely give him a head start!! Read More

    • Posted On May 26, 2009 12:39:27 PM

      ... my energy), but seriosuly, my kids are borderline ADHD and I think they got it from me. They are SOOOO active. I've read a lot about ADD and ADHD and have always been more of a "naturali... Read More

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    • Posted On September 30, 2008 10:47:34 AM

      ...ound that the key to living with a mood disorder is a combination of solutions (I fight the battle with every weapon I have): exercise, nutrition, talk therapy, the occasional massage and medici... Read More

    • Posted On December 10, 2008 07:49:34 AM

      ... recommendation-and see if yu like that person they suggest-you may have to try a few before you find the right one! Good luck! Read More

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For the past year, a debate has been raging regarding the misdiagnoses of bipolar disorder. New research seeks to clarify the initial findings by determining what the researchers believe is the appropriate diagnosis. In the earlier study, investigators...

I’m the Normal-er One

Personality Disorder Test Results Paranoid |||||||||| 34% Schizoid |||||||||||| 46% Schizotypal |||||||||||||||| 66% Antisocial |||||||||||||||| 62% Borderline |||||| 26% Histrionic |||||||||| 34% Narcissistic |||||||||||| 50% Avoidant |||||||||||| 42...

What’s Your Major Malfunction?

Personality Disorder Test Results Paranoid |||||||||| 34% Schizoid |||||||||||||||| 62% Schizotypal |||||||||||||||||||| 82% Antisocial |||||||||||| 50% Borderline |||||||||||| 42% Histrionic |||||||||||||||| 62% Narcissistic |||||||||||||||||| 74...

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Borderline Personality Disorder Topic Guide

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D_Forbes: @stephenfry Advocacy for Borderline Personality Disorder: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Advocacy-for-Borderline-Personality-Disorder RT

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Glitterpeople: I will now make sweet love to my laptop and we will conceive a beautiful child named "Polyvagal Theory and Borderline Personality disorder."

c30c60c90go: Working on my swing at Majestic. Diagnosis: borderline personality disorder.

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