In the United States, 1.6% of the adult population has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (Lenzenweger, M.F. p.1, www.nimh.gov). In the same vein, 2.6% of the adult U.S population have also been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Borderline personality disorder, commonly shortened to the acronym BPD, is frequently misused to mean bipolar disorder. While both of these disorders share similarities in symptoms and behaviors, they are also different. Borderline personality disorder is a cluster B (dramatic) personality disorder that is characterized by mood instability, relationship instability, frequent uncertain self-image, and impulsivity.
Borderline personality disorder, a mental illness that, in this day and age has little known regarding it. Categorized as a cluster B, or dramatic, personality disorder, it can be a debilitating and quite destructive mental illness to have. As debilitating as this disorder is, the research surrounding this particular personality disorder is fairly young, and still receives skepticism in regards to diagnosis. Some try to link this disorder to bipolar disorder, saying that it is a branch of bipolar disorder. Others argue that it is its own, independent mental illness. Though the studying of this topic is not the biggest issue, there is still debate over it. However, Borderline Personality Disorder is distinctly different from Bipolar Disorder and is a completely separate diagnosis. The history of Borderline Personality
What is Borderline Personality Disorder? Defined by the website www.borderlinepersonalitydisorder.com, “Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness that causes unstable moods, behavior, and relationships. It usually begins during adolescence or early adulthood.” One may wonder what can be the cause of this disorder. BPD can be detected by an in-person interview about the symptoms that are occurring. The input from family and close friends of the individual that is being treated can also help detect the symptoms. The causes for BPD are not fully
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can be described in simple terms as a condition in which sufferers experience long periods of emotional instability and troubled feelings about themselves and other people. These troubled feelings allow individuals to take impulsive measures and have trouble in their relationships (Bouchard, Sabourin, Lussier & Villeneuve, 2009). BPD basically comprises of unusual intensities of instability in mood and irrational thinking also referred to as splitting. Splitting in BPD involves a switch between negative perception of others and idealization (Sperry, 2003). This usually occurs along with irregular mood swings and can negatively impact on the existing relationships such as family,
Individuals who suffer of such disorder are capable of changing their behavior and mindset drastically. For example, if the person is in a relationship they can love and idolize their partner at one instant and completely hate and seek revenge against them, if they feel their partner hurts them. At times, they even try to self-sabotage themselves by attempting to hurt themselves. Their personality characteristics are known to be demanding, intense, aggressive, and even feeling empty an abundant amount of times. Essentially an individual with borderline personality disorder are defined by the word “instability” as their behavior is completely unpredictable and rocky to their experiences (Buss & Larsen, 2001).
Rationale for diagnosis: I arrived at the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder for several different reasons. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2013), Borderline Personality Disorder is defined as “A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts.” One of the defining characteristics within this definition for Borderline Personality Disorder is “Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment”. Robin’s case states that she would often verbally downgrade her companions and then a short time later she would end up worrying that she may have estranged them. Robin would then do something kind for her companions to keep them close and remain devoted to her. Robin meets this defining characteristic because, as stated, she becomes frantic when she feels that someone is going to abandon her and puts forth an effort to do something kind for them to avoid this abandonment. Another defining characteristic of Borderline Personality Disorder is “A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation”. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Robin's personal relationships with others were said to be quite abnormal; she would rapidly and with no reason shift from one mood to another. This seems to describe a pattern between Robin valuing her friends at times, yet also belittling them at other times in an extreme and alternating manner. Another characteristic that Robin possesses that is used in describing Borderline Personality Disorder is “Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging”. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The two areas that Robin portrays acts of self-damaging are through substance abuse (in Robin’s case, alcohol) and binge-eating due to her having Bulimia Nervosa. On a side note, eating disorders, particularly bulimia, are common in people with Borderline Personality Disorder; almost 25% of bulimics have the disorder. (Zanarini, Reichman, Frankenburg, Reich, & Fitzmaurice, 2010), and, up to 67% of the people with this disorder are
Borderline personality disorder is defined in its most simplest sense as being a mental health disorder that generates significant emotional instability. [1] In sufferers it generates a wide range of symptoms typically characterised into three groups; Problems regulating emotions and thoughts; impulsive behaviour without thinking of the consequences of actions; and lastly unstable relationships. Evaluating the most effective treatment(s) for BPD remains a target for mental health services as the disorder is associated with self harm and suicide attempts, with suicide attempts recorded in 69-80% of patients. [2]
Aka BPD, is a mental disorder marked by ongoing intense mood swings, self-imaging problems, and impulsive behavior usually surfacing during adolescence to early adulthood and can lead to major psychological disorders later in life.
9.6 percent of the United States population have a mental disorder and 1.6 percent have borderline personality disorder. Borderline personality disorder is a mental illness that shows symtoms of not being able to regulate emotional responses and moods, impacting self image, relationships and behavior (National Institute of Mental Health,2016). The National Institute of Mental Health states that borderline personality disorder is experienced in a person when they are overwhelmed with emotions in the cognitive functioning. Symptoms of a person with borderline personality disorder could include explosive amount of anger, depression, and anxiety. People with borderline personality disorder could also have other mental disorders such as mood
The main feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image and emotions. People with borderline personality disorder are also usually very impulsive.
“Personality disorders have been documented in approximately 9 percent of the general U.S. population” (Angstman, Rasmussen, 2011). Emotional dysregulation disorder or its common name borderline personality disorder is a very serious and chronic disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) describes borderline personality disorder as “a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts” (Gardner, 2006). Within the last 20 years, psychologists and other mental health professionals have made tremendous strides in research on what exactly borderline personality disorder, some of its triggers and possible effective treatment options. Borderline personality disorder is defined as a disorder that generates severe emotional instability which can be a springboard that can lead to other stress induced mental and behavioral problems.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious and complex mental disorder involving maladaptive behaviors and multiple symptoms. This disorder often occurs in the context of relationships and can have a chaotic effect not only on the individual with BPD but also on their loved ones. According to the NIMH, “borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness characterized by unstable moods, behavior, and relationship”.9 A primary character of BPD is behavioral and emotional dysregulation. These behaviors are difficult
Personality traits are stated in the work of Hsu (2004) to be such that reveal "characteristics and patterns of an individual's environmental observations, thinking processes, and coping strategies. They exert long-term effects on adaptation and personal identity. The author presents a case study of a patient with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) who suffered from suicidal ideation, intense mood swings, all-good/all-bad thinking patterns, and poor job performance." (Hsu, 2004, p.1)
Likewise, the author read that Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is described as instability in interpersonal relationship, self-image and mood, a fast fluctuation between emotional states, impulsive behaviour and an inclination towards self-harm and suicidal thinking (NICE 2009).
According to the DSM-5, Personality Disorders are characterized by “impairments in personality functioning and the presence of pathological personality traits”. Borderline Personality Disorder is one of ten personality disorders listed in the DSM-5. The DSM-5 lists several criteria that must be met in order for someone to be diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. They are quoted as follows:
Furthermore, borderline personality disorder is clinically defined as ones instability which is evident in their relationships, emotions, behavior and image of themselves. Persons with such disorder may have feelings of abandonment. Often in efforts to manipulate people back into relationships, they take part in self-manipulating behavior or suicidal attempts. Suicide is sometimes attempted impulsively by persons in periods of extreme depression. In addition people often experience strong emotions and strong desires for intimacy.
The history of BPD can be traced back to 1938 when Adolph Stern first described the symptoms of the disorder as neither being psychotic nor psychoneurotic; hence, the term ‘borderline’ was introduced (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2009, p. 15). Then in 1960, Otto Kernberg coined the term ‘borderline personality organization’ to describe persistent patterns of behavior and functioning consisting of instability, and distressed psychological self-organization (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2009, p. 15).