This paper provides a structured overview of borderline personality disorder (BPD), examining its definition, pathological origins, diagnostic criteria, and treatment options. It explores research suggesting that BPD arises from a combination of genetic vulnerabilities, parental psychopathology, family dysfunction, and childhood trauma. The paper outlines the eight core behavioral symptoms used for diagnosis, describes key assessment instruments including the DIB-R and SCID-II, and evaluates treatment approaches with particular emphasis on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). It concludes that BPD is a complex, long-standing disorder requiring lengthy, multifaceted intervention.
Patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) typically exhibit an incoherent and vulnerable sense of self that is easily disrupted by the perceived dislike or rejection by important others. A subgroup of patients frequently engages in self-destructive behaviors such as self-harming, attempted suicide, or severe substance abuse. BPD often occurs together with other psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders (Koekkoek, van der Snoek, Oosterwijk, & van Meijel, 2010).
BPD is currently viewed by most authorities and clinicians as a multi-determined disorder. Research shows that BPD may evolve from predisposing genetics, parental psychopathology and/or family dysfunction, and childhood trauma.
Sansone and Sansone (2007) report that recent studies indicate the appearance of a non-specific genetic contribution to BPD. Though BPD does not appear to be directly inherited, vulnerabilities may be inherited that heighten affective instability, poor impulse management, and/or dysfunctional cognitive or perceptual styles, which under certain conditions may culminate in BPD.
Parental psychopathology and family dysfunction also appear linked to the development of BPD. Studies strongly suggest that dysfunctional early relationship experiences with parents, as well as unstable family-of-origin environments — including parental neglect, a lack of empathy, perceived low parental support, poor relationships with parents, abnormal parental bonding, and invalidating, conflicting, negative, or critical family interactions — may contribute to the occurrence of BPD.
Numerous studies support a relationship between childhood trauma and BPD in adulthood. In a large sample of patients with BPD, studies found that 85% reported histories of childhood trauma. Mental health clinicians frequently report the co-existence of childhood trauma and BPD among patients in clinical settings. The interrelationships of genetics, parental psychopathology/family dysfunction, and repetitive abuse in childhood appear to be the major contributory variables to BPD (Sansone & Sansone, 2007).
BPD is defined by the presence of at least five of eight behavioral symptoms: unstable interpersonal relationships, behavioral impulsivity, affective instability, inappropriate anger, self-mutilating acts, identity disturbance, chronic feelings of emptiness, and fear of abandonment (McGirr, Paris, Lesage, & Renaud, 2009).
"DBT, medications, and social support"
BPD is intrinsically difficult to treat. Personality disorders, by definition, are long-standing ways of coping with the world, social and personal relationships, handling stress and emotions, and so forth that often do not work. Studies indicate that BPD evolves from predisposing genetics, parental psychopathology and/or family dysfunction, and childhood trauma. While each factor is a separate entity, they are likely to be closely interrelated. For example, the existence of vulnerable genetics may, generation after generation, culminate in parents with psychological problems. In turn, these parents may emotionally mismanage their children through abusive behavior, resulting in the perpetuation of a cycle of transgenerational trauma and dysfunction. Treatment for this disorder is likely to be fairly lengthy in duration.
You’re 51% through this paper. Sign up to read the remaining 1 section.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.