BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER

BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER

Borderline personality disorder or BPD is a form of psychological instability in social relationships, mental imaging, and feelings. It may manifest as impulsivity in early adulthood and can present as such:

  • Efforts to avoid authentic or imagined abandonment
  • Unstable relationships
  • Poor self-image
  • Self-damaging behavior or suicidal
  • Emotionally unstable
  • Constant feeling of loneliness
  • Intense anger
  • Paranoia or genuine dissociative symptoms

TYPES

BPD was classified into subtypes by American therapist Theodore Millon.

Millon’s four types of BPD are:

  • Discouraged BPD
  • Impulsive BPD
  • Petulant BPD
  • Self-destructive BPD

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of BPD include:

  • Fear of being abandoned
  • Flimsy or unstable relationships
  • Poor self-image
  • Careless, impulsive and self-destructive behavior
  • Hurting the self
  • Mood swings
  • Always feeling empty
  • Anger outbursts
  • Feeling suspicious or pulled back from present reality

DIAGNOSIS

BPD is diagnosed with the following:

  • Consultation with a doctor or mental health provider
  • Psychological assessment
  • Medical history and physical exam
  • Taking note of your signs and symptoms

TREATMENT

Psychotherapy

Forms of psychotherapy that has been observed to be beneficial include:

  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
  • Schema-focused therapy
  • Mentalization-based therapy (MBT)
  • Systems training for emotional predictability and problem-solving (STEPPS)
  • Transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP)
  • Psychiatric help

Hospitalization

You may require continuous treatment in a psychological facility or center.

Related Articles

TETRALOGY OF FALLOT

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect that affects the [...]

TRICHINOSIS

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Trichinosis, also known as trichinellosis, is a parasitic infection caused by [...]

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Trigeminal neuralgia is a neurological condition characterized by severe facial pain. [...]