Borderline personality disorder

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Overview

Borderline personality disorder is a mental health disorder that impacts the way you think and feel about yourself and others, causing problems functioning in everyday life. It includes self-image issues, difficulty managing emotions and behavior, and a pattern of unstable relationships.

With borderline personality disorder, you have an intense fear of abandonment or instability, and you may have difficulty tolerating being alone. Yet inappropriate anger, impulsiveness and frequent mood swings may push others away, even though you want to have loving and lasting relationships.

Borderline personality disorder usually begins by early adulthood. The condition seems to be worse in young adulthood and may gradually get better with age.

If you have borderline personality disorder, don't get discouraged. Many people with this disorder get better over time with treatment and can learn to live satisfying lives.

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Diagnosis & treatment
Dec. 13, 2022
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  4. Skodol A. Treatment of borderline personality disorder. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 8, 2018.
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  6. Borderline personality disorder. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Borderline-Personality-Disorder/Overview. Accessed May 8, 2018.
  7. Starcevic V, et al. Pharmacotherapy of borderline personality disorder: Replacing confusion with prudent pragmatism. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 2018;31:69.
  8. Veterans Crisis Line. U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/. Accessed May 10, 2018.
  9. Palmer BA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 1, 2018.
  10. National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. Systems training for emotional predictability and problem solving (STEPPS). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://nrepp.samhsa.gov/Legacy/ViewIntervention.aspx?id=243. Accessed May 10, 2018.

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Borderline personality disorder