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Mind & Being Links
Borderline Personality Disorder
- core features and examples
- possible causes and risk factors
- treatments, support, and coping
- complications
- resources and references
Core Features and Examples
Diagnosis requires 4 of the following:
- instability in sense of self, sense of others, relationships, and others
- frantic efforts to avoid abandonment (often a problem at the end of an interview or discharge)
- alternating idealization and devaluation in relationships
- identity disturbance, including in sexuality
- impulsivity in at least two areas: spending, promiscuity, reckless driving
- recurrent suicidal or self-harm behaviour (often the reason for psychiatric consults)
- affective instability, cycling within minutes
- chronic emptiness
- intense anger, suspiciousness and dissociation
May be related to reactive attachment disorder in children.
Defense mechanisms
- splitting
- acting out
- regression
- externalizing blame
Possible Causes and Risk Factors
There seems to be a preponderance of childhood sexual assault.
Treatments, Support, and Coping
People with borderline personality disorder are often greatly stigmatized by health.
Suicide assessment is critical.
Admissions should be approached with great caution, especially with long-term stays. Short-stay visits may be necessary for suicidality, crisis-management.
Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) can be useful, especially to help people decide on goals. Group therapy can also be useful
Interpersonal therapy can also be good to help people
Complications
There is a very high rate of concurrent substance abuse, depression,
Resources and References