Bordeline Personality Disorder
By: Shelby Hieronymus
What is it and how can it be identified?
Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental illness that causes unstable moods, behavior, and relationships. It usually begins during adolescence or early adulthood. Some common symptoms include; problems regulating emotion or thought, impulsive or reckless behavior(self harm or suicide attempts), and unable to hold a stable relationship.
What can cause BPD and how may it be diagnosed?
Through research it is found that genetic and environmental influences are common causes of BPD. There tend to be abnormalities in the brain structure and function and more activity in the parts of the brain that control emotion. Environmental factors that could play a part in BPD include emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. There isn't really any other way to diagnose BPD besides observation. Typically the subject with the disorder will have an in-person interview to discuss symptoms, family and close friends will also give their input to give added information to assist in treatment.
Who can get it and can it be cured?
Approximately 5.9%(18 million people) in the world end up with BPD, as of now there is no proven difference on whether males or females are more likely to have BPD. There is a higher chance for adolescence and young adults to acquire BPD because at those points in life is when you are more suggestible or highly influenced in trying to find out who you are. Though there isn't really a medical treatment for BPD it can be cured through extensive therapy but never truly goes away, something as simple as an extremely stressful day can cause the symptoms to resurface.
A few extra facts
- BPD is one of the most misunderstood mental illnesses
- 2% of Americans have this disorder(4 Million)
- More common than schizophrenia
- 10% of adults commit suicide
- 33% of youth who commit suicide show signs of BPD
Current Research
A previous study of BPD, TFP or transference-focused psychotherapy, has helped patients to reduce symptoms and the way in which they think. TFP was used in a long term, 1 year, study to examine the long term effects.
Controversies on BPD
BPD is a very controversial mental illness because it has to do with ones personality. Some doctors have argued that BPD isn't a proper mental illness diagnoses due to the fact that personalities differ. Many times BPD is diagnosed as bi-polar when it is much more serious than that.