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Etiology
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), as is the case with several psychiatric disorders, is viewed widely as a consequence of the complex interaction of many factors such as psychological, neuroanatomical, neurochemical, and genetic factors.
a) Genetic factors: There is growing evidence that BPD is genetic and can run in some families. A study of people with BPD has shown that the prevalence of BPD among the relatives of people suffering from the condition can be up to 20 times higher than the prevalence among people who don’t have a blood relative suffering from the condition. In Monozygotic twins, the concordance rate was 35% relative to a rate of 7% in dizygotic twins. This research was done by Torgersen and colleagues. This high concordance rate is linked to the role played by genetics in BPD etiology.
b) Neurochemical factors: Serotonin has been linked to impulsivity and aggression. If there is a drop in the levels of serotonin, there is a corresponding increase in impulsive and aggressive behavior. Therefore, professionals have made the suggestion that the impulsive and aggressive behavior often witnessed among people with BPD is usually caused by low serotonin levels in the brain. Also, norepinephrine has been liked to aggression among people with BPD.
c) Neuroanatomical factors: Amygdale hyperactivity has been recorded among BPD patients. Further, a decrease in the functioning of the preorbital and prefrontal cortex in BPD patients has been associated with decrease in personal capacity.
d) Traumatic experiences: People who have been diagnosed with the disorder report instances of adversity and trauma as a consistent feature of their existence. The trauma is...…ability of patients to comprehend the mental state of others as well as their own mental state – the capacity to “mentalize”.
c) Transference-focused psychotherapy: The therapy is informed by a theory that was proposed first by Dr. Otto Kernberg. He theorized that BDP develops in a person because of “identity diffusion.” The idea is that one loses the capability to integrate negative and positive images of others and of themselves. The problems begin in childhood but continue into adulthood thereby creating a lot of internal conflict. The therapy works by helping the patient and the clinician understand past relationship dynamics and the emotions the patient has attached to those relationships that may affect their current state. The therapy’s aim is assisting patients integrate the views of other people and the views of themselves better.…
Borderline Personality Disorder Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder are afflicted with a continual state of emotional conflict and chaos, often swinging from one extreme of emotion to another. Patients with BPD are traditionally known to exhibit symptoms of depression, anger and anxiety at varying times, and traditionally demonstrate self-injurious behavior. The road to treatment and recovery is often a different one, as traditional psychotherapeutic approaches often fail treating patients with DSM-IV.
32) The overall diagnostic and symptomatic patterns described by these points indicate that BPD is a serious disorder and is "...classified as a major personality disorder involving dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior; intense, unstable moods and relationships; chronic anger; and substance abuse." (Boucher, 1999, p. 33) There are a number of criteria which, in line with DSM-IV, are used to identify and characterize this disorder. The first of these criteria refers
People living with mental illness are often marginalized, demeaned, and seen as being outside the normal boundaries of society. For people with BPD, this is doubly painful as it reinforces their sense of worthlessness and victimization, and may even lead to suicide attempts. For those who can recognize they have BPD, yet not know how to deal with it, the social stigma may lead them to attempt to cope with
Within ten years, many of these approaches will become closer and closer to reality. Currently, research into the biological basis of BPD is in its infancy. A great deal of concerted research is necessary to ascertain the specific impairment in the regulation of neural paths that modulate impulsivity, mood instability, aggression, anger, and negative emotions seen in the BPD patient. These are complex pathways, and it will require a significant
According to Philip W. Long, M.D., "During brief reactive psychoses, low doses of antipsychotic drugs may be useful, but they are usually not essential adjuncts to the treatment regimen, since such episodes are most often self-limiting and of short duration. It is, however, clear that low doses of high potency neuroleptics may be helpful for disorganized thinking and some psychotic symptoms. Depression in some cases is amenable to neuroleptics.
Borderline Personality Disorder Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is defined as a condition wherein the patient suffers from a difficulty in regulating his or her emotions (NAMI, 2018). Individuals suffering from BPD can lack impulse control, have a poor self-image, and experience severe emotional responses when stressed. The inability to regulate the emotions can lead the individual to lash out at the self and engage in self-harm in some cases (NAMI, 2018).