Borderline Personality Disorder

MEANING

Borderline Personality disorder is a mental illness. It's onset is generally adolescence or early adulthood. It is a disorder associated with the personality of an individual.

SYMPTOMS

Some symptoms are:

• Fear of abandonment or left alone - They have fear of being left alone. 
• Unclear or shifting self image- They feel unstable about self. Sometimes they feel good about themselves and sometimes bad.
• Impulsive, self destructive behaviors- They may engage in harmful behaviors like spending money out of range, driving recklessly, doing risky sex with alcohol or drugs, etc and feel happy for the moment.
• Extreme emotional swings- They feel happy at a moment and sad at another.
• Explosive anger - They struggle with controlling their anger like throwing things. They are short tempered.
• Self harm- They also try to self harm, have suicidal thoughts and might attempt suicide also.

CAUSES

Some common causes are:

• Genetic- Traits related to borderline personality disorder are influenced by genes. A major twin study found that if one identical twin met criteria for borderline personality disorder, the other also met criteria in 35% of cases.( Torgersen, Lygren,Oien,2000).
• Environmental factors- It includes childhood trauma, especially physical and sexual abuse. Numerous studies have shown a strong correlation between child abuse especially child sexual abuse and development of borderline personality disorder(Kluft,1990;Zanarini et.al,1989;Herman,1992; Quadrio,2005). Many individuals with borderline personality disorder report to have had a history of abuse and neglect as young children(Zanarini&Frankerburg,1997).
• Family environment- Patients of borderline personality disorder reports of having been verbally and  emotionally abused by their caregivers. Loss of caretakers at the early age of childhood can cause the disorder.(Brandley, Jenei &Westen, 2005).
• Socio-cultural changes- Rapid socio-cultural changes like emptiness, fears of abandonment, problem of identity etc also contributes to the disorder.

TREATMENT

BPD patients can be referred to psychiatrist and psychologist.