Borderline Personality Disorder
The symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder can be
summarized as instability in mood, thinking, behavior, personal
relations, and self-image. Individuals with the disorder may:
Many symptoms of Borderline Personality disorder are similar to
those found in other disorders, such as anxiety disorder,
schizophrenia and other personality disorders like:
Borderline Personality Disorder can affect anyone, but it is
often diagnosed in adolescents and young adults. Women seem to
develop it more often than men.
Possible Origins and Causes of Borderline Personality
Disorder
The cause of Borderline Personality disorder is still unclear.
Research shows that chemical imbalances in the brain and other
biological factors may be involved, such as heredity. Childhood
trauma, such as abuse and neglect, have also been cited as possible
causes. People with personality disorders often use “defense
mechanisms”, or coping strategies, that allow them to deny
responsibility for their feelings and actions. One defense is
called “splitting” – putting some people on a
pedestal while devaluing others. Another defense is called
“projective identification” - which involves denying
one’s feelings, attributing them to someone else, and then
behaving in a way that causes the other person to respond in kind.
For example, when the borderline person’s hostility is
reciprocated, they can think and/or act as though it were not their
own.
Treatment Options
Psychotherapy is nearly always the chosen treatment, helping the
individual recognize and control their behaviors and mood swings,
and process negative thoughts and feelings. Personality disorders
are long-standing methods of coping with the world, relationships,
and emotions, that often do not work. Therefore, individuals with
BPD usually require long-term, outpatient treatment. Medications
can be used to help stabilize mood swings and impulsive behavior.
Medication, though, is rarely effective without individual therapy
and group or family therapy as the cornerstone.
For more information contact your local Mental Health Association,
community mental health center, or for additional resources, please
call 1-800-969-NMHA.
National Mental Health Association
2001 N. Beauregard Street, 12th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone 703/684-7722
Fax 703/684-5968
Mental Health Resource Center 800/969-NMHA
TTY Line 800/433-5959
National Mental Health Services
Knowledge Exchange Network
PO Box 42490
Washington, DC 20015
Phone: (800) 789-2647
Treatment and Research for Personality Disorder (TARA)
23 Green Street
New York, NY 10013
Phone: (212) 966-6514
Hotline: (888) 4-TARA-APD
