
What is the main treatment for borderline personality disorder?
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. Treatment can help you learn skills to manage and cope with your condition.Jul 17, 2019
What is the most successful treatment approach for borderline personality disorder?
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was the first form of psychotherapy found to be effective for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT is a form of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which focuses on how thoughts and beliefs can lead to actions and behaviors.Feb 10, 2020
What is DBT used for?
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy tries to identify and change negative thinking patterns and pushes for positive behavioral changes. DBT may be used to treat suicidal and other self-destructive behaviors.Feb 18, 2020
What are treatments for personality disorders?
Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, is the main way to treat personality disorders....However, several types of psychiatric medications may help with various personality disorder symptoms.Antidepressants. ... Mood stabilizers. ... Antipsychotic medications. ... Anti-anxiety medications.Sep 23, 2016
What is the best medication for borderline personality disorder?
Mood Stabilizers. While research is limited, some mood stabilizers, including lamotrigine and topiramate, have been shown to reduce aggression in people with borderline personality disorder. For this reason, these medications are only recommended for people who have difficulty controlling aggressive behavior.
Why is it important to evaluate clients with borderline personality disorder?
It is important that clinicians evaluate clients with borderline personality disorder for co-occurring conditions and address them in treatment. Anxiety: Most people with borderline personality disorder have comorbid anxiety disorders. The combined effects of these co-occurring conditions can make interpersonal situations especially painful ...
What is DBT used for?
It has become one of the most widely used and effective interventions for borderline personality disorder and is now used to treat mood and trauma-based disorders as well. DBT combines CBT techniques with techniques drawn from meditation and mindfulness practices.
What percentage of people with borderline personality disorder have major depressive disorder?
About 20 percent of people with borderline personality disorder also have major depressive disorder. Comorbid borderline personality disorder and depression can be an especially destructive combination, significantly increasing the risk of suicide and lowering quality of life. As with anxiety, depression is most effectively treated ...
Why are SSRIs prescribed for borderline personality disorder?
For these reasons, SSRIs are often prescribed to people with borderline personality disorder to improve emotional regulation and impulse control. Mood Stabilizers.
What is EMDR therapy?
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) was specifically designed to help people process and heal from trauma. In EMDR, people recall traumatic memories while tracking a visual or auditory signal. The way this particular mechanism works to help people re-process trauma is not clear, but research shows that EMDR is effective in treating trauma-related conditions, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What is mentalization therapy?
Mentalization is the process by which people come to understand themselves and others, particularly by developing empathy for. Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) is designed to improve this process. It helps people with BPD establish a more stable sense of self and gain more insight into their emotional processes. It can also help people with BPD improve their interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
What is borderline personality disorder?
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) defines borderline personality disorder as an “illness marked by an ongoing pattern of varying moods, self-image, and behavior… [which] often result in impulsive actions and problems in relationships.”.
What are the best medications for BPD?
The first medications that were used in treatment plans and prescribed to individuals diagnosed with BPD were antipsychotics. Antipsychotics have been known to reduce paranoid thinking, minimize anxiety, lessen anger and/ or hostility, and reduce impulsivity in patients diagnosed with BPD. Examples of specific antipsychotic medications prescribed to individuals with borderline personality disorder include: 1 Haloperidol (Haldol) 2 Olanzapine (Zyprexa) 3 Clozapine (Clozaril) 4 Quetiapine (Seroquel) 5 Risperidone (Risperdal)
What are the first medications prescribed for BPD?
The first medications that were used in treatment plans and prescribed to individuals diagnosed with BPD were antipsychotics. Antipsychotics have been known to reduce paranoid thinking, minimize anxiety, lessen anger and/ or hostility, and reduce impulsivity in patients diagnosed with BPD. Examples of specific antipsychotic medications prescribed ...
What is mood stabilizer?
Mood stabilizers and anticonvulsant (anti-seizure) medications are used to treat the impulsive behaviors that can manifest as a symptom of borderline personality disorder. They also aid in stabilizing rapid changes in emotions that occur in individuals diagnosed with BPD.
Do mood altering medications have to be closely adhered to?
When taking any mood altering medications, it is imperative to closely adhere to the directions of the prescribing medical professional.
Can anti-anxiety medication cause anxiety?
Anti-anxiety medications are also referred to as anxiolytics. Due to the fact that intense anxiety is a common side effect of BPD, medications used to reduce anxiety may be prescribed. However, it has been reported that certain types of anxiolytics (i.e. Klonopin, Ativan) could result in worsening symptoms for some people. Hence, anti-anxiety drugs are often prescribed with caution. Common anti-anxiety medications include:
Why do people take BPD medication?
Some reasons you might want to try BPD medications include: Reduce symptom severity: Medications may help people better manage some of the symptoms of BPD such as mood swings, irritability, depression, anxiety, and stress-related paranoia. Improve functioning: Because medications may make some symptoms less severe, ...
What antidepressants are used for BPD?
There are several types of antidepressants that have been studied for use with BPD, including tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). 4. Common antidepressants include:
What can people with BPD do to improve their ability to cope?
These include. Treating co-occurring conditions: Other mental health conditions such as substance use, anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can make managing your BPD more difficult.
Why is it called a borderline?
The term "borderline" was coined because early psychiatrists believed that the symptoms of BPD were "on the border" between neurosis and psychosis. For this reason, some of the first medications tested for BPD were antipsychotics .
What are the treatments for BPD?
Researchers are exploring new medication options for treating BPD including neuropeptide agents, cannabinoid medications, and medications that target serotonin receptors with greater specificity. 1
What are the side effects of taking BPD medication?
Some of the more common side effects you might experience include: Appetite changes. Constipation.
What are the co-occurring conditions of BPD?
Mental conditions that commonly co-occur with BPD include depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and bipolar disorder. 3 . ...
What is the treatment for borderline personality disorder?
Psychotherapy is the centerpiece of treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD) because medications don’t address the core personality traits and behaviors common in this mental disorder. Instead, medications are often used to relieve BPD symptoms like mood swings, depression, impulsivity, and aggression.
What is the most commonly prescribed medication for BPD?
Studies across different countries have shown that antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed drug class for people with BPD, with close to 80% of BPD patients taking them. 1. Antidepressants— namely selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)—have been most studied.
How long do people with BPD take antidepressants?
Around 71% of people with BPD were found to be taking some form of BPD medication for at least six years. 1 .
What is the best medication for bipolar disorder?
Mood Stabilizers and Anticonvulsants. Mood stabilizers and anticonvulsants are used to help with BPD symptoms like anger, mood swings, and impulsivity. Mood stabilizers are traditionally used to treat affective disorders like bipolar disorder. About 36% of BPD patients take mood stabilizers. 1.
Which medication has been shown to lead to mild improvement in affective instability, not impulsivity, in some studies?
Luvox (fluvoxamine): This medication has been shown to lead to mild improvement in affective instability, not impulsivity, in some studies. Paxil (paroxetine): Limited data show this medication leads to possible decrease in suicidality without significant effects on depression.
Which benzodiazepine is used for anxiety?
Klonopin (clonazepam): This medication is approved for the treatment of panic disorder. Xanax ( alprazolam ): This is used to treat both anxiety and panic disorders.
Which medication improves mood swings, impulsivity, aggression, interpersonal sensitivity, and severity of the disorder in
Abilify (aripiprazole): This medication improves affective symptoms, aggression, paranoia, and overall functioning. Zyprexa ( olanzapine): This improves mood swings, impulsivity, aggression, interpersonal sensitivity, and severity of the disorder in general. It carries a high risk of weight gain and metabolic effects.

Overview
- Self-harming behaviors and suicidal gestures are actually separate issuesself-harming behaviors are not attempts to commit suicide. Self-harming behaviors (self-mutilation) are attempts to get rid of emotional pain or intensely uncomfortable feelings. People who self-harm rarely do so when others are present. Yet you may see signs of self-harm, including scarring or wounds from cuttin…
- 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 …
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.Treatment can help you learn skills to manage and cope with your condition. It's also necessary to get treated for any other mental health disorders that often occur along with borderline personality disorder, su…
- Treatment: Most people with bipolar disorder need lifelong treatment to keep their condition managed. This usually includes medicine -- usually mood stabilizers, and sometimes also antipsychotics or antidepressants. Therapy can also help people with bipolar disorder understand it and develop skills to handle it.
- One method for this is dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), which combines acceptance and mindfulness of ones emotional state with coping skills for these emotions, per the NIMH. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can help people with BPD identify and manage their emotions and behaviors, is another common option, the NIMH says. However, a psychiatrist ma…
- Most treatment for borderline personality disorder tends to focus on weekly group psychotherapy with the individual using an approach called dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Some people may also benefit from individual DBT treatment. DBT was specifically researched and designed to treat this condition, and has good scientific evidence for its effectiveness and positive outcomes.A s…
Signs And Symptoms
- Borderline personality and bipolar: These two disorders are often confused. They both have symptoms of impulsiveness and mood swings. But they are different disorders and have different treatments. Also known as manic depression, bipolar disorder causes swings in mood, energy, and the ability to function throughout the day. Symptoms: Bipolar disorder is known for alternati…
- If you are worried that you or a loved one may have borderline personality disorder (BPD), it's important to be informed about the illness and its symptoms. While some of the symptoms of BPD are not easily identified, others are associated with observable behaviors. Borderline personality disorder symptoms include instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and …
- People with BPD tend to have difficulty regulating emotions, an unsteady sense of self, and a pattern of intense, unstable relationships. At its core, BPD affects how a person thinks and feels about themselves and others enough to negatively impact their daily life, according to the Mayo Clinic.
- Borderline personality disorder affects how you feel about yourself, how you relate to others and how you behave.Signs and symptoms may include: 1. An intense fear of abandonment, even going to extreme measures to avoid real or imagined separation or rejection 2. A pattern of unstable intense relationships, such as idealizing someone one moment and then suddenly belie…
Diagnosis
- Personality disorders, including borderline personality disorder, are diagnosed based on a: 1. Detailed interview with your doctor or mental health provider 2. Psychological evaluation that may include completing questionnaires 3. Medical history and exam 4. Discussion of your signs and symptomsA diagnosis of borderline personality disorder is usually made in adults, not in childre…
- The important feature of emotionally unstable personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships, self-perception and moods. Impulses are poorly controlled. At times they may appear psychotic because of the intensity of their distortions.The ICD-10 classification gives emotionally unstable personality disorder the code F60.03 and identif…
- Here are some signs and symptoms that may indicate you or your loved one need to be evaluated by a healthcare professional: If you think you may have BPD, it is important to see a licensed mental health professional who can listen to your concerns and make an accurate diagnosis. You may feel discouraged after reading about the signs and symptoms and how they affect nearly ev…
- The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, which mental health professionals use to diagnose mental illnesses, requires that someone exhibit at least five of the following symptoms in order to get a BPD diagnosis: There has been general hesitation to diagnose personality disorders in those under 18. As the Mayo Clinic explains, sometimes what seems lik…
Causes
- Borderline personality disorder involves a longstanding pattern of abrupt, moment-to-moment swings -- in moods, relationships, self-image, and behavior (in contrast to distinct episodes of mania or depression in people with bipolar disorder) that are usually triggered by conflicts in interactions with other people. People with borderline personality disorder can experience overl…
- BPD is often associated with patterns of very unstable and intense interpersonal relationships. A pattern of alternating between idealization and devaluation in relationships is common, a process referred to as \"splitting.\" A relationship may start in the idealization phase with the person with BPD feeling intensely connected to and positive about the other person and wanting to spend a l…
- According to the NIMH, research suggests that a combination of hereditary, neurological, and environmental factors increase a persons likelihood of having BPD. If a family member has BPD, youre more likely to also have it, but there is no known gene linked to the condition, according to the NIMH. It also appears as though the brains of people with BPD have structural and functiona…
- As with other mental health disorders, the causes of borderline personality disorder aren't fully understood. In addition to environmental factors — such as a history of child abuse or neglect — borderline personality disorder may be linked to: 1. Genetics. Some studies of twins and families suggest that personality disorders may be inherited or strongly associated with other mental he…
Research
- Research shows that the remission rates are incredibly high, Dixon-Gordon says. A study of 175 BPD patients, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry in 2011, found that 85 percent remitted within 10 years. (The researchers defined remission as meeting two or fewer BPD criteria.) Most of that change occurred in the earlier years, the study authors said.
- Although the cause of BPD is unknown, both environmental and genetic factors are thought to play a role in predisposing patients to BPD symptoms and traits according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Studies show that many, but not all individuals with BPD report a history of abuse, neglect, or separation as young children. Forty to 71 percent of BPD patients re…
Quotes
- Why did they end? \"Irreconcilable differences\". The commencement of each affair was \"a dream come true\" and the men were all and one \"Prince Charming\". But then she invariably found herself in the stormy throes of violent fights over seeming trifles. She tried to \"hang on there\", but the more she invested in the relationships, the more distant and \"vicious\" her partners beca…
Risk Factors
- Some factors related to personality development can increase the risk of developing borderline personality disorder. These include: 1. Hereditary predisposition. You may be at a higher risk if a close relative — your mother, father, brother or sister — has the same or a similar disorder. 2. Stressful childhood. Many people with the disorder report being sexually or physically abused or …
Benefits
- In addition to this one-on-one model, group sessions led by a therapist can also help people with BPD learn how to best interact with and express themselves to other people, the NIMH says. There simply arent yet clear enough benefits to using medications as the primary treatment for BPD, the NIMH explains. Extreme emotional sensitivity presents with serious challenges, but the…
Complications
- Borderline personality disorder can damage many areas of your life. It can negatively affect intimate relationships, jobs, school, social activities and self-image, resulting in: 1. Repeated job changes or losses 2. Not completing an education 3. Multiple legal issues, such as jail time 4. Conflict-filled relationships, marital stress or divorce 5. Self-injury, such as cutting or burning, an…