Personality disorders are mental health conditions involving long-term patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that can cause distress or difficulties in relationships and everyday life. There are several types of personality disorders, and symptoms and experiences can vary considerably from one person to another.
Understanding these conditions, recognizing when professional support may be helpful, and learning about available treatments can be important steps toward managing symptoms and improving quality of life. With appropriate care and support, meaningful improvement is possible.
Overview
Borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that affects the way people feel about themselves and others, making it hard to function in everyday life. It includes a pattern of unstable, intense relationships, as well as impulsiveness and an unhealthy way of seeing themselves.
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Written by: Mayo Clinic Staff
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Overview
Borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that affects the way people feel about themselves and others, making it hard to function in everyday life. It includes a pattern of unstable, intense relationships, as well as impulsiveness and an unhealthy way of seeing themselves.
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Written by: Mayo Clinic Staff
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Visit Mayo Clinic to Learn MoreSymptoms
Borderline personality disorder
Symptoms may include:
- A strong fear of abandonment. This includes going to extreme measures so you're not separated or rejected, even if these fears are made up.
- A pattern of unstable, intense relationships, such as believing someone is perfect one moment and then suddenly believing the person doesn't care enough or is cruel.
- Quick changes in how you see yourself. This includes shifting goals and values, as well as seeing yourself as bad or as if you don't exist.
- Periods of stress-related paranoia and loss of contact with reality. These periods can last from a few minutes to a few hours.
- Impulsive and risky behavior, such as gambling, dangerous driving, unsafe sex, spending sprees, binge eating, drug misuse, or sabotaging success by suddenly quitting a good job or ending a positive relationship.
- Threats of suicide or self-injury, often in response to fears of separation or rejection.
- Wide mood swings that last from a few hours to a few days. These mood swings can include periods of being very happy, irritable or anxious, or feeling shame.
- Ongoing feelings of emptiness.
- Inappropriate, strong anger, such as losing your temper often, being sarcastic or bitter, or physically fighting.
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Written by: Mayo Clinic Staff
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Visit Mayo Clinic to Learn MoreHow neuroscience is contributing to our understanding of how BPD develops.
What Causes Borderline Personality Disorder?
- Genetics plays a larger role in the development of BPD than previously thought.
- The brains of people diagnosed with BPD are significantly different from normal brains.
- Moderate to high functioning people with BPD rarely get diagnosed or included in research studies.
- We do not yet know whether higher functioning people with BPD have an equally high genetic component.
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Written by: Elinor Greenberg Ph.D.
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Visit Psychology Today to Learn MoreDiagnosis
Borderline personality disorder
Personality disorders, including borderline personality disorder, are diagnosed based on a:
- Detailed interview with your doctor or a mental health professional.
- Mental health evaluation that may include completing a series of questions.
- Medical history and exam.
- Discussion of your symptoms.
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Written by: Mayo Clinic Staff
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Visit Mayo Clinic to Learn MoreTreatment
Borderline personality disorder
Treatment
Borderline personality disorder is mainly treated using psychotherapy, but medication may be added. Your doctor also may recommend hospitalization if your safety is at risk.
Psychotherapy — also called talk therapy — is a fundamental treatment approach for borderline personality disorder.
Types of psychotherapy
**Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
** Schema-focused ** therapy
** Mentalization-based therapy (MBT)
** Systems training for emotional predictability and problem-solving (STEPPS)
** Transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP)
** Good psychiatric management
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Written by: Mayo Clinic Staff
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Visit Mayo Clinic to Learn MoreMedication
Borderline personality disorder
Medications
Although no drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically for the treatment of borderline personality disorder, certain medications may help with symptoms or co-occurring problems such as depression, impulsiveness, aggression or anxiety. Medications may include antidepressants, antipsychotics or mood-stabilizing drugs.
Hospitalization
At times, you may need more-intense treatment in a psychiatric hospital or clinic. Hospitalization may also keep you safe from self-injury or address suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
Recovery takes time Learning to manage your emotions, thoughts and behaviors takes time. Most people improve considerably, but you may always struggle with some symptoms of borderline personality disorder. But treatment can improve your ability to function and help you feel better about yourself
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Written by: Mayo Clinic Staff
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