What Does Borderline Personality Disorder Mean?

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is seen in 2 (two) out of every 100 (hundred) people. Its onset begins in late adulthood. It is a personality disorder that continues with inconsistency in interpersonal relationships, self-perception and affect, and results in self-destructive behavior, anger and aggression.

The most commonly observed phenomena are anger and aggression. The extent of aggression and anger style in people with Bordeline personality disorder will guide therapists and clients. It is a complex and serious mental disorder caused by a high risk of suicide and severe dysfunction.

Borderline personality disorder, which is seen in 2% of the general population, is 3 times more common in women than in men.

Their most distinguishing features are that they are depressed, inconsistent, changeable, aggressive and prone to violence. (Kernberg, 1967; Akiskal, 1981; Aktar, 1986; DSM-IV, 2000; Baykız, 2003; Brodsky, 1997; Gardner, 1990; Goldstein, 1995; Grinker, 1968; Gunderson, 1975; Kernberg, 1992; Lieb et al. ., 2004; O’Leary et al., 1991;

It is important to identify borderline personality disorder. Borderline personality disorder is a first-axis psychiatric disorder and  shows a predisposition to disorders such as bipolar disorder ,  anxiety disorder ,  panic disorder ,  social phobia ,  specific phobia ,  eating disorders , somatization disorder, hypochondriasis,  post-traumatic stress disorder , and major depression  (Alnaes and Torgersen, 1997). It has been revealed that panic disorder, social phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder trigger borderline disorder.

Studies on borderline personality disorder are limited, but it is important to identify its symptoms during the therapy and diagnosis process. Research on anger and aggression is important in understanding borderline disorder. Long-term psychotherapies are applied for the main treatment of borderline personality disorder.

Outbursts of anger negatively affect the therapy process. These actions are sometimes against the therapist performing their therapy. Aggression is any behavior that harms or aims to harm another person (Freedman et al., 2003). Depending on their personality characteristics, some individuals may behave aggressively (Öztürk, 1997).

In studies conducted on the parents of people with borderline personality disorder, personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder and alcohol use disorder are generally observed in the family. The parent’s treatment will be related to the child’s treatment. Improvement will be observed in the child.

Borderline personality disorder also causes social problems that can cause distress between individuals. It causes crime and violence rates to increase. To reduce the rate of this disease, it is necessary to intervene from early childhood. The risk factors of this health problem on society need to be identified and precautions must be taken.

How is BKM diagnosed?

There are evident criteria for diagnosing BPD from the beginning of early adolescence; (APA, 2013):

1) Identity confusion

2) Inconsistent and tense interpersonal relationships that go between extremes of overestimation and disdain.

3) At least two impulsive behaviors that are harmful to oneself (spending, sexuality, substance abuse, unsafe driving, etc.).

4) Making frantic efforts to avoid abandonment

5) Inappropriate intense anger, difficulty in anger management

6) Inconsistency in affect

7) A persistent feeling of emptiness

8) Recurrent suicidal behavior, attempts or intimidation

9) Transient suspicious thoughts or severe dissociative symptoms associated with the compulsion.

Attitudes and feelings towards others are incomprehensible, rapid and can change drastically (Kring, Johnson, Davison, & Neale, 2017). These mood changes have been observed to be sudden, unexpected, and greater than major depressive disorder (Trull, Solhan, Tragesser, Jahng, Wood, Piasecki, & Watson, 2008). Intense tantrums are an important problem in terms of interpersonal relationships.

Because they are sensitive, small emotional signs of others are of great importance to them (Lynch, Rosenthal, Kosson, Cheavens, Lejuez, and Blair, 2006).

Impulsivity is high in people with borderline personality disorder. For this reason, they may exhibit extreme behaviors such as overeating, substance use, gambling, and having dangerous sexual relationships. Since self-awareness does not develop in people with BCM, great difficulties are observed in basic issues such as career choice and commitment.

They do not want to be alone and have a fear of abandonment. When abandoned, they may become depressed, throw tantrums, or harm themselves or others (APA, 2013)

Studies conducted with family histories have shown that genetic influence may also be important in the development of BPD. Genetic transmission may be effective up to 40% in BPD. It is thought that serotonergic dysfunction and genetic susceptibility due to the TPHi gene may increase the risk of BPD (CourtneySeidler, Klein, & Miller, 2013).

Research conducted in the last 30 years has observed that childhood traumas play an important role in the development of many personality disorders, including BPD. It has been observed that these traumas occur mostly in cases of parental separation, lack of parental attention and protection, and parental loss (Bradley, 1979; Walsh, 1977; Goldberg, Mann, Wise, & Segall, 1985).

Studies have focused especially on childhood sexual abuse and pointed out the high rate of sexual abuse in the life stories of these children (Menon et al., 2016).

When the presence of an invalid environment and emotional fragility interact dynamically with each other, they trigger borderline personality disorder. In these invalid environmental conditions, the feelings of the individual are not respected and taken into account.

Children with emotional fragility make demands from their families, and these demands are not met, and the parents behave in a blasé manner and punish the child. The child is forced to suppress his emotions. These suppressed emotions accumulate and express themselves in an explosion. Behaviors such as self-harm, suicide, aggression, and substance use develop in the individual (Courtney-Seidler et al., 2013).

Ankara Borderline Treatment Center

Serving all over Turkey as Ankara Psychiatry Center, Erdem Psychiatry Center is also at your service regarding Borderline Personality Disorder with its expert psychologists and psychiatrists.

To make  an online appointment , you can either   visit the page  ederpsikiyatri.com/randevu or  contact us directly on our page bilgimpsikiyatri.com/iletisim .