Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health condition that causes emotional instability, relationship problems, a low sense of self-worth, and fear of abandonment. Other common symptoms include problems managing anger and recurring self-destructive or suicidal behaviors.
The negative or destructive behaviors of borderline personality disorder are intense. These behaviors occur over a long period of time, often in combination with other disorders such as depression, anxiety, or other mental health problems. People with this disorder often have problems with substance abuse, gambling, or eating disorders.
Although there is no cure for borderline personality disorder, symptoms are often treated with counseling and medicines such as antidepressants or mood stabilizers. Most people who are treated for borderline personality disorder do get better over time. However, treatment can be difficult, and recovery can take years.
These inner experiences often cause them to take impulsive actions and have chaotic relationships.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
The causes of borderline personality disorder (BPD) are unknown. Genetic, family, and social factors are thought to play roles.
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.
Symptoms
People with BPD are often uncertain about their identity. As a result, their interests and values may change rapidly.
People with BPD also tend to see things in terms of extremes, such as either all good or all bad. Their views of other people may change quickly. A person who is looked up to one day may be looked down on the next day. These suddenly shifting feelings often lead to intense and unstable relationships.
Other symptoms of BPD include:
- Fear of being abandoned
- 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
- Repeated crises and acts of self-injury, such as wrist cutting or overdosing
Information from :
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001931/
www.webmd.com
