BPD Nicole Cadieux

Borderline Personality Disorder

Nicole Cadieux A00123516

Borderline Personality Disorder is a mental disorder that significantly affects a person's ability to regulate and control their emotions and impulsivity.

Those suffering from borderline personality disorder struggle to regulate emotions which may affect their relationships, increase their impulsivity, poor decision or "on-the-fly" decision-making, with no consideration for consequences and poor or negative self-image. They may experience dissociation and extreme mood swings, episodes of "mania" or "depressive episodes."

10% of the population have a BPD diagnosed, 75% are women. 50% of those diagnosed have a substance use disorder diagnosis.

50% with borderline personality disorder reported that treatment was successful and showed improvement over a 10-year period.

Treatment & Diagnosis

Psychotherapy/talk-therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Dialectical-behavioral therapy; this form of treatment was developed specifically for those diagnosed with BPD, teaches skills to help people to control and regulate intense emotions, reduce self-destructive behaviors and improve relationships.

Medication; some medications may be prescribed and may help reduce symptoms, but not a cure for BPD.

Risk Factors

Family History; people with close family members diagnosed with BPD are at higher risk of developing this disorder.

Brain structure and function; people diagnosed with BPD may have structural and functional changes in the brain.

Environmental, cultural and social factors; experiencing traumatic events such as abuse, neglect, or abandonment during childhood. They may have also been exposed to unstable, invalidating relationships or conflicts.

Subtypes of BPD

Type 1 Affective; characterized by 'emotional dysregulation', poor control over emotions. Frequent and intense mood swings throughout the day.

Type 2 Impulsive; loss of control over behavior. Self-injury, substance use, reckless sex, compulsive shopping, reckless driving

Type 3 Aggressive; Inappropriate or uncontrollable behavior, when the scale of anger is disproportionate to what a circumstance might warrant.

Type 4 Dependent; described as "clingy," and hate being alone. may have a fear of abandonment and may adopt or "mirror" aspects of other people's personalities.

Type 5 Empty; struggle with identity crisis. May struggle with trust others or have disfunction setting their own personal goals.