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#Post#: 79--------------------------------------------------
What is borderline personality disorder?
By: BMHC Date: December 31, 2013, 10:46 am
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Information is provided by The National Institute of Mental
Health (NIMH) is part of the National Institutes of Health
(NIH), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.
URL of this page:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/borderline-personality-disorder/ind…
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/borderline-personality-disorder/ind…
[quote]What is borderline personality disorder?
Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental illness
marked by unstable moods, behavior, and relationships. In 1980,
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders,
Third Edition (DSM-III) listed borderline personality disorder
as a diagnosable illness for the first time. Most psychiatrists
and other mental health professionals use the DSM to diagnose
mental illnesses.
Because some people with severe borderline personality disorder
have brief psychotic episodes, experts originally thought of
this illness as atypical, or borderline, versions of other
mental disorders.1 While mental health experts now generally
agree that the name "borderline personality disorder" is
misleading, a more accurate term does not exist yet.
Most people who have borderline personality disorder suffer
from:
�
�
�
People with this disorder also have high rates of co-occurring
disorders, such as depression, anxiety disorders, substance
abuse, and eating disorders, along with self-harm, suicidal
behaviors, and completed suicides.
According to data from a subsample of participants in a national
survey on mental disorders, about 1.6 percent of adults in the
United States have borderline personality disorder in a given
year.
Borderline personality disorder is often viewed as difficult to
treat. However, recent research shows that borderline
personality disorder can be treated effectively, and that many
people with this illness improve over time.
What are the symptoms of borderline personality disorder?
According to the DSM, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR),
to be diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, a person
must show an enduring pattern of behavior that includes at least
five of the following symptoms:
�
frantic actions�to abandonment, whether real or perceived
�
friends, and loved ones, often veering from extreme closeness
and love (idealization) to extreme dislike or anger
(devaluation)
�
result in sudden changes in feelings, opinions, values, or plans
and goals for the future (such as school or career choices)
�
sprees, unsafe sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, and binge
eating
�
behavior, such as cutting
�
from a few hours to a few days
�
�
�
symptoms, such as feeling cut off from oneself, observing
oneself from outside the body, or losing touch with reality.
Seemingly mundane events may trigger symptoms. For example,
people with borderline personality disorder may feel angry and
distressed over minor separations�such as vacations, business
trips, or sudden changes of plans�from people to whom they feel
close. Studies show that people with this disorder may see anger
in an emotionally neutral face5 and have a stronger reaction to
words with negative meanings than people who do not have the
disorder.
When does borderline personality disorder start?
Borderline personality disorder usually begins during
adolescence or early adulthood.1,9 Some studies suggest that
early symptoms of the illness may occur during childhood.
How is borderline personality disorder diagnosed?
Unfortunately, borderline personality disorder is often
underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
A mental health professional experienced in diagnosing and
treating mental disorders�such as a psychiatrist, psychologist,
clinical social worker, or psychiatric nurse�can detect
borderline personality disorder based on a thorough interview
and a discussion about symptoms. A careful and thorough medical
exam can help rule out other possible causes of symptoms.
The mental health professional may ask about symptoms and
personal and family medical histories, including any history of
mental illnesses. This information can help the mental health
professional decide on the best treatment. In some cases,
co-occurring mental illnesses may have symptoms that overlap
with borderline personality disorder, making it difficult to
distinguish borderline personality disorder from other mental
illnesses. For example, a person may describe feelings of
depression but may not bring other symptoms to the mental health
professional's attention.
No single test can diagnose borderline personality disorder.
Scientists funded by NIMH are looking for ways to improve
diagnosis of this disorder. One study found that adults with
borderline personality disorder showed excessive emotional
reactions when looking at words with unpleasant meanings,
compared with healthy people. People with more severe borderline
personality disorder showed a more intense emotional response
than people who had less severe borderline personality disorder
How is borderline personality disorder treated?
Borderline personality disorder can be treated with
psychotherapy, or "talk" therapy. In some cases, a mental health
professional may also recommend medications to treat specific
symptoms.
[/quote]
Good information can also be found here:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/borderline-personality-disorder/bor…
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/borderline-personality-disorder/bor…
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