Borderline Personality Disorder

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental health condition characterized by frequent instability in relationships, self-image, or emotions. People who live with BPD may experience issues with identity, self-harm, impulsivity, fear of abandonment, and feelings of emptiness. They can also experience rapid mood changes that last from a few hours to a few days.

Signs and Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder

A person with BPD may experience some of the following signs and symptoms:

• Emotional dysregulation and instability, including sudden mood swings, outbursts, anger, and rage.
• Intense fear of abandonment or of being rejected or alone.
• Unstable relationships alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.
• Distorted sense of self or an unstable self-image; being prone to feelings of worthlessness and insecurity
• Impulsivity in ways that are potentially self-damaging, such as excessive spending, sex, or substance use.
• Recurrent self-harming behaviors, such as cutting, or suicidal behavior, threats, or harm.
• Ongoing feelings of emptiness.

Are you concerned about a family member or friend who may have Borderline Personality Disorder? Contact a Resource Specialist for free, confidential support identifying symptoms and locating resources for help.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder

All people experience a degree of emotional turmoil and instability from time to time. For the person with BPD, there is an ongoing pattern of emotional dysregulation that interferes with daily functioning and the ability to maintain relationships.

Borderline Personality Disorder can be difficult to diagnose, as many of its symptoms can be mistaken for signs of a mood or identity disorder. Symptoms of BPD usually begin in late adolescence or early adulthood. BPD is more commonly diagnosed in women (about 75% of cases) than men. However, men can also experience BPD, and it may be underdiagnosed in males due to gender bias and stigma associated with the disorder.

Borderline personality disorder belongs to a category of mental health conditions known as personality disorders. These disorders involve deeply ingrained patterns of behavior that can be very hard for a person to change. As a result, BPD was once thought to have poor treatment outcomes. However, evidenced-based treatments such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teach skills that can help individuals manage their emotions and have more stable lives and relationships.

Although BPD may persist throughout a person’s lifetime, the self-harm, high-risk behavior, and instability of relationships tend to lessen in middle age, while vocational functioning tends to improve.