Borderline Personality Disorder - Understanding It, History, Treatment, Closing - Includes Outline and Bibliography

Borderline personality disorder can include many aspects: instability in mood regulation, impulse control, difficulties in interpersonal relationships and self-image. (Lieb et al, 2004) Jaynelle has experienced all of these at some time in her life. She grew up stealing from Safeway to be able to eat, uprooting her family to move with multiple boyfriends, and she overreacts when she thinks she is being slighted by social services. She is quick to anger and lashes out when provoked.

Assessment of the patient with borderline personality disorder is inclusive of the patient's: (1) physical; (2) emotional; (3) cognitive; (4) social; and (5) spiritual characteristics. These are assessed based on the patient's: (1) subjective reports; (2) interview records; and (3) behavioral

Until recent years, borderline personality disorder was believed to be an untreatable personality disorder and despite no medications approved by the Federal Drug Administration to treat the disorder, there are still high rates of pharmacotherapy (McMain et al., 2009; Hersch, 2015). However, over the last 20 years, many studies have been able to identify some effective forms of psychotherapy that can reduce the core symptoms of the disorder (McMain et al., 2009). Stoffers, et al (2012) reports that there are several evidence-based practices that have been shown to be effective in treating the symptoms of borderline personality disorder. These practices are mentalization based therapy, transference-focused psychotherapy, general psychiatric management, dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, systems training for emotional predictability and problem solving, and schema-focused therapy (as cited in McMain, 2015). Despite advances in the treatment of borderline personality disorder, the treatments that have been developed are still in a stage of infancy and need further progress and research (McMain,

Borderline personality disorder is known to affect many individuals, but at what cost? This psychological concept reflects on a person’s struggle to find identity because of others and how they view their own self-image. Borderline personality disorder by the National Institute of Mental Health publicizes “loss of emotional control [and] can increase impulsivity, [it can also] affect how a person feels about themselves, and negatively impact their relationships with others.” With an increase in impulsivity and a loss of emotional control, a person will grow to be very unstable. If a person has a poor relationship with themselves and has negatively impacted relationships with family and/or friends, it is most likely going to cause issues in

Even with the multiple enlightening Internet sources, educational websites, and scholarly articles that attempt to explain Borderline Personality Disorder, the complexity of BPD still remains. It may be easier to understand the nature of Borderline Personality Disorder by viewing documentaries of individuals experiencing the illness first hand. When reviewing websites on a mental illness such as BPD, it is important to analyze the validity of the information rather than automatically believing the content is updated and reliable.

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition, Borderline personality disorder is described as having a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, affects, and marked impulsivity that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts. In order to be diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, the individual must demonstrate five or more of the nine behaviors experienced within the disorder. The nine criterion behaviors within the disorder include: (1) frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, (2) a pattern of unstable and intense relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation, (3) identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self, (4) impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self damaging such as sexuality, spending, substance abuse, binge eating or reckless driving, (5) recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, threats, or self mutilating behavior, (6) affective

Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) include a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and is marked impulsivity. BPD begins in early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts. Alice Klieg displays 6 of

Borderlines have problems with their mood. Their mood is not manic, but alternates between normal and flat to moderate or severe depression (Livesley 150). These individuals also go through periods of intense anger that can interfere with effective social functioning. Persons with borderline personality disorder are very vulnerable, and usually over-react to stress. These individuals usually form unstable and intense 'love-hate' relationships, either a person or situation is "all-good", or if any problems occur, "all-bad'" (Durand 273). "The borderline's anger usually alienates a relationship yet the borderline will make frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment" (Burger 299). People with BPD angrily fear the abandonment of their friend or loved one and have episodic angry outbursts in fear that the person might abandon him or her. Recent research has shown that medications can significantly relieve the suffering of borderline patients when used in combination with psychotherapy (Livesley 145).

“Personality” demonstrates the overall creation of one’s qualities and characteristics all grouped together. Furthermore, personality disorders are “…a persistent pattern of emotions, cognitions, and behavior that results in enduring emotional distress for the person affected and/or for others and may cause difficulties with work and relationships” (Barlow, 411). Now on to analyzing the final word of this disorder, which is “Borderline”. Unsettled, undecided, and uncertain are all synonyms for “borderline”. Based on these synonyms, “borderline” translates to problematic.

The DSM IV defines borderline personality disorder as an AXIS II disorder which has symptoms of impulsivity and emotional dysregulation. A person with borderline personality disorder has feelings of abandonment and emptiness, and has frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, going to extremes to keep someone from leaving. He or she is emotionally unstable and forms intense but unstable interpersonal relationships. They also have a very unstable self-image or sense of self. They show impulsive behavior, such as spending money, reckless driving, sex, binge eating and other types of eating disorders, and substance abuse. They tend to have recurrent suicidal behavior, and tend to self-mutilate. Some patients with borderline personality disorder have chronic feelings of emptiness, and intense anger or difficulty controlling it (Diagnostic and Statistical

Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental condition that is often associated with unstable moods, behaviors, and relationships. BPD originated from the 1930’s. The psychoanalyst, Adolf Stern, noted that there was a group of emotionally troubled people that did not fall into the categories of “neurotic” and “psychotic”. This dubbed the term of “borderline”. Although the causes are not exactly understood, it is believed to be associated with a variety of environmental factors, such as, neglect or child abuse. According to Psychology Today, “forty to 71 percent of BPD patients report having been sexually abused, usually by a noncaregiver.” (?). In addition, studies on twins and families have shown that BPD may be inherited. Other studies show that it may have to do with your social or cultural environment. For instance, a person that grew up in an unstable family might later develop the same types

The history of BPD can be traced back to 1938 when Adolph Stern first described the symptoms of the disorder as neither being psychotic nor psychoneurotic; hence, the term ‘borderline’ was introduced (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2009, p. 15). Then in 1960, Otto Kernberg coined the term ‘borderline personality organization’ to describe persistent patterns of behavior and functioning consisting of instability, and distressed psychological self-organization (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2009, p. 15).

A psychodynamic theory analyzes the early parental relationships that can explain the underlying causes for Borderline Personality disorder (Gabbard, 2010). Psychodynamic theory can explain the early childhood experiences of Estelle and parents that cause and shape her personality. At an early age, she felt unappreciated and that her school accomplishments were not valued. She believes that her parents only gave her attention if she did something wrong and she always felt that her dad favored her brother. These early on-set emotions emphasized on her unconscious forces that guided her behavior in non-suicidal attempts to attract attention from her parents. Psychotherapy can allow Estelle to find an understanding to her problematic ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving towards herself and the relationships she has with others (Nelson, K. J., et

The main feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image and emotions. People with borderline personality disorder are also usually very impulsive.

A specific definition of borderline personality disorder can be found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The manual groups this personality disorder under the Cluster B personality disorders, and summarizes it as “a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts…” (DSM-5 663). There are nine criteria addressed in the manual, and five of them need to be met in order to diagnose