Borderline Personality Disorder

Jun 15, 2023

Table of contents

30 Second Summary

  • Borderline personality disorder is a mental disorder in which a person has inconsistencies and extremes in their emotions, thoughts and behaviors.
  • Borderline personality disorder usually begins in young adulthood and is more common in women than in men.
  • Although the exact cause of borderline personality disorder is unknown, genetic, environmental and psychological factors are thought to play a role.
  • Treatment of borderline personality disorder involves a combination of psychotherapy and medication.

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder, also known as borderline personality disorder, causes various problems in a person's social life and creates problems in the way people with the disorder feel towards people and perceive life. Patients may show anger and impulsivity due to anti-social behaviors exhibited in borderline personality disorder, one of the most prominent mental disorders.

Borderline personality disorder is a disorder that greatly affects a person's life and prevents them from establishing the right kind of relationships. In this respect, it may cause the patient to be alone in social life. This loneliness leads to more serious symptoms.

Diagnostic Methods for Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder should always be diagnosed by a qualified psychiatrist. As a result of the psychiatric evaluation by the specialist, the patient may also be presented with various questionnaires. The patient's history is carefully considered at this point. The specialist who best analyzes the symptoms and the patient's condition makes the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder.

The diagnosis is based on all of the symptoms, not just one or a few of them. In particular, outbursts of anger are taken into account during diagnosis. Since many mental disorders exhibit similar characteristics, there is no rush to diagnose them. A complete diagnosis is crucial for the right treatment methods.

Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder, like other psychiatric disorders, presents with a variety of symptoms. In addition to having clear indicators, it can also be observed by those around the patient. The most striking symptoms of the disease, which has many challenging effects in many aspects of daily life, are as follows:

  • Trust issue
  • Fear of abandonment
  • Emotions experienced at extremes
  • Impulsivity
  • Sudden mood swings
  • Exhibit dangerous and stressful behavior
  • Don't be quickly disappointed
  • Anti-social behavior
  • Feeling worthless
  • Sense of inferiority
  • Suicidal tendencies
  • Aggression
  • Gambling, spending unnecessary money
  • Feeling of worthlessness
  • Sensitivity
  • Identity confusion
  • Anxiety about being alone
  • Self-harm
  • Excessive behavior
  • Tantrums
  • Picking up harmful habits
  • Careless behavior

Causes of Borderline Personality Disorder

The causes of borderline personality disorder are not fully known. Borderline personality disorder, which usually occurs in young adulthood, may increase in adulthood.

With various studies, it has been learned that this condition may be hereditary and may be more common if family members have similar disorders. It has also been found to be associated with some of the other known mental disorders.

Childhood traumas play a major role in the history of most patients. Children who have been sexually abused or physically abused are known to show signs of borderline personality disorder in their teenage years. Domestic violence and an oppressive family environment can also be a factor in borderline personality disorder, as in many mental disorders. In addition, children who do not receive enough attention and love from their parents may also show symptoms of borderline personality disorder in young adulthood.

Differences have been observed in the anger regions in the brains of patients with borderline personality disorder. Low levels of the hormone serotonin may also be among the factors that cause borderline personality disorder. Borderline personality disorder, which greatly affects the decision-making mechanism and the whole life of the person, is more common in women than in men. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for the condition, which is largely thought to be caused by environmental factors.

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Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment Methods

As with the treatment of other known mental disorders, borderline personality disorder should also be treated by a specialist. Borderline personality disorder, which can be treated with specialist support, cannot be treated without medical assistance. In the first step of treatment, the patient undergoes various forms of psychotherapy. Psychotherapy methods focus on correcting the patient's reactions to situations and eliminating impulsivity. Psychotherapy, a long but effective form of treatment, teaches techniques to cope with rapidly changing moods. In addition to psychotherapy, medication is sometimes used, depending on the patient's condition. If the specialist psychiatrist deems it appropriate, giving medication support to the patient makes the process more comfortable. In drug treatment, drugs that increase the hormone serotonin may be preferred. In advanced cases, more effective treatment can be started with hospitalization. In this way, the patient's tendency to self-harm is also prevented.

Psychotherapy methods applied to the patient during the treatment process are as follows:

  • Dialectical behavior therapy
  • Mentalization-oriented therapy
  • Schema-focused therapy
  • Education focused on directing emotions

Borderline Personality Disorder Characteristics

Borderline personality disorder, which is one of the leading mental disorders in the field of psychiatry, differs from similar mental disorders with a number of features. The proportion of borderline personality disorder patients, who can gain problem-solving skills in daily life with the right treatment, is approximately 2% of the population. Patient follow-up is of great importance in the disease, which is more rare in men. Borderline personality disorder can often be found in people who often have problems in their family life, work environment and circle of friends over mundane issues.

Patients who are vulnerable to various dangerous situations due to the disorder, which greatly affects their ability to make correct decisions, can often harm themselves. In addition, many people with alcohol and drug addiction may have symptoms of borderline personality disorder. In addition to harmful habits, patients who are vulnerable to risky situations such as uncontrolled sexual intercourse make wrong decisions due to fear of abandonment. Patients who are unable to cope with situations such as loneliness and disappointment may overreact to these situations.

Patients with borderline personality disorder, who behave incompatibly in social life or have to struggle with a number of problems, are easily noticed by their suddenly changing views and behaviors. Borderline personality disorder, which includes negative traits such as inconsistent ideas, short temper, impulsive behavior and suicidal tendencies, can progress further if left untreated. In advanced cases, the patient poses a danger to himself and his relatives.

Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Difference

The main difference between these two mental disorders is that borderline personality disorder causes a more unstable mood.

Borderline personality disorder can be summarized as a condition in which the person experiences self-confusion over long periods of time. The patient has a complex emotional state and may exhibit behaviors such as aggression and self-harm. In bipolar disorder, a person's mood can change with sudden attacks. Between attacks, the patient behaves more consistently, experiencing emotions at extremes during transitions.

Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder may suddenly become very attached to the other person in a relationship and suddenly devalue that person for no reason. In bipolar disorder, it is only during the episodes that the person experiences a change in mood, exhibiting depressive, manic or manic-depressive behavior.

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