Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder (better known as emotionally-unstable personality disorder here in Europe) is one of 10 recognised personality disorders. It's a type of mental illness. With personality disorders, symptoms have usually been present for a prolonged period of time and overall have a negative impact on the person's life. It isn't usually diagnosed before the age of 18 as it's believed the personality is still developing during adolescence.
Other mental illnesses can often co-exist alongside borderline personality disorder. Often these are anxiety disorders, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and bi-polar disorder (also known as manic depression).
To be diagnosed with BPD (according to the DSM), five or more of the following nine symptoms must be present and long-standing (pervasive) and not explained by physical illness, substance misuse or a different mental illness:
1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.
2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships, characterised by extremes of idealization and
devaluation.
3. Identity disturbance - markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.
4. Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging e.g. spending, sex, substance abuse,
reckless driving or binge-eating.
5. Recurrent suicidal behaviour, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behaviour.
6. Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood e.g. intense episodic dysphoria, irritability or anxiety,
which usually lasts for between a few hours and several days.
7. Chronic feelings of emptiness.
8. Inappropriate, intense anger, or difficulty controlling anger e.g. frequent displays of temper, constant anger or
recurrent physical fights.
9. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms.
Other mental illnesses can often co-exist alongside borderline personality disorder. Often these are anxiety disorders, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and bi-polar disorder (also known as manic depression).
To be diagnosed with BPD (according to the DSM), five or more of the following nine symptoms must be present and long-standing (pervasive) and not explained by physical illness, substance misuse or a different mental illness:
1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.
2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships, characterised by extremes of idealization and
devaluation.
3. Identity disturbance - markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.
4. Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging e.g. spending, sex, substance abuse,
reckless driving or binge-eating.
5. Recurrent suicidal behaviour, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behaviour.
6. Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood e.g. intense episodic dysphoria, irritability or anxiety,
which usually lasts for between a few hours and several days.
7. Chronic feelings of emptiness.
8. Inappropriate, intense anger, or difficulty controlling anger e.g. frequent displays of temper, constant anger or
recurrent physical fights.
9. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms.
Possible Causes of BPD
No one factor has been shown as the absolute cause of BPD but there are many theories as to what can cause or influence the illness.
Developmental Causes
For people affected by BPD there is more often than not a history of abuse; childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, witnessing violence at home, emotional abuse and/or neglect. They often have come from families with dysfunctional relationships. This suggests that it's a key factor as to why people may go on to develop BPD. It cannot be considered the sole reason as there are people with BPD that don't have this kind of background. However, it cannot be ignored because of the high percentage of sufferers report the mentioned childhood experiences. It has been suggested that BPD may be a form of post traumatic stress disorder.
Biological Causes
It has been theorised that BPD may be connected to biological or genetic factors. There is evidence to suggest a genetic component. Children with a parent (or two parents) that has BPD have an increased likelihood of being prone to BPD and other psychiatric illnesses. This vulnerability may only result in the child having BPD if they are raised in a triggering environment e.g. abused or neglected.
Developmental Causes
For people affected by BPD there is more often than not a history of abuse; childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, witnessing violence at home, emotional abuse and/or neglect. They often have come from families with dysfunctional relationships. This suggests that it's a key factor as to why people may go on to develop BPD. It cannot be considered the sole reason as there are people with BPD that don't have this kind of background. However, it cannot be ignored because of the high percentage of sufferers report the mentioned childhood experiences. It has been suggested that BPD may be a form of post traumatic stress disorder.
Biological Causes
It has been theorised that BPD may be connected to biological or genetic factors. There is evidence to suggest a genetic component. Children with a parent (or two parents) that has BPD have an increased likelihood of being prone to BPD and other psychiatric illnesses. This vulnerability may only result in the child having BPD if they are raised in a triggering environment e.g. abused or neglected.