What is borderline personality disorder?

Answer 1

The definition of Borderline Personality Disorder from the DSM-IV

"The defining criteria of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts, "as indicated by five (or more) of the following:


1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.
2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.
3. Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self; or sense of long-term goals; or career choices, types of friends desired or values preferred.
4. Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging: for example; spending, sex, substance abuse, and binge eating.
5. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior.
6. Affective instability: marked shifts from baseline mood to depression, irritability, or anxiety, usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days.
7. Chronic feelings of emptiness.
8. Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger; frequent displays of temper.
9. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms.

Borderline Personality Disorder is not one "disorder". It is to a great degree a collection of disorders that co-exist and often feed off of each other in ways that make life very difficult for people diagnosed with it.


Sorry, cut and pasted, but it helps...I hope. Would be too dificult to explain in my own words.

Answer 2

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is defined within psychiatry and related psychological fields as a disorder characterized primarily by emotional dysregulation, extreme "black and white" thinking (believing that something is one of only two possible things, and ignoring any possible "in-betweens"), and turbulent relationships. It can also be described by mental health professionals as a serious mental illness characterized by pervasive instability in mood, interpersonal relationships, self-image, identity, and behavior, and a disturbance in the individual's sense of self.
The disturbances suffered by those with borderline personality disorder have a wide-ranging and pervasive negative impact on many or all of the psychosocial facets of life -- including employability and relationships in work, home and social settings. Furthermore, BPDs may be marginalized by society due to their moods and behaviors

Answer 3

It's a diagnosis which might or might not be accurate. Personality disorders are not set in stone. Perhaps what you want to know is why you or someone close to you is acting in an extreme fashion such as "I hate you don't leave me". Well, maybe it's BPD and maybe it isn't. Maybe someone's just going through some difficult times in life.

Answer 4

Go to www.webmd to find out, it is a very complicated disorder.

Answer 5

Something you wished you didn't have....Look it up on GOOGLE and you'll get all the details. It's very hard to live with...

Answer 6

Me : (
Happy one moment, hateful the next.

Answer 7

You start flapping your arms like a bird and yelling cluck, cluck as you approach a state or national border.

Answer 8

http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic270.htm
or search it in the DSM-IV

Answer 9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder