In this Article

• What is borderline personality disorder?
• What other disorders often occur with BPD?
• What causes borderline personality disorder?
• What are the risk factors for borderline personality disorder?
• What are the symptoms of borderline personality disorder?
• How is borderline personality disorder diagnosed?
• How is borderline personality disorder treated?
• What are the complications of borderline personality disorder?
• What is the prognosis of people with borderline personality disorder?
• Where to can I get more information on borderline personality disorder?
• Borderline Personality Disorder At A Glance
• Borderline Personality Disorder Glossary
• Borderline Personality Disorder Index

What causes borderline personality disorder?

Although there is no specific cause for BPD, like most other mental disorders, it is understood to be the result of a combination of biological vulnerabilities, ways of thinking, and social stressors (biopsychosocial model). Biologically, individuals with BPD are more likely to have an overactive amygdala, the area of the brain that is understood to regulate emotions. Psychologically, BPD seems to make a person more vulnerable to difficulty managing their emotions, particularly impulsive aggression. Socially, this disorder predisposes sufferers to be more likely to excessively expect to be criticized or rejected and negatively personalize disinterest or inattention from others. In addition to these issues, people with BPD are more likely to have suffered from childhood abuse or neglect.

What are the risk factors for borderline personality disorder?

Although some research asserts that people with BPD seem to have areas of the brain that are more and less active compared to individuals who do not have the disorder, other research contradicts that. Therefore, specific patterns of brain functioning as they are currently studied and understood seem unreliable risk factors for BPD.

Although not alone in terms of risk, adults that come from families of origin where divorce, neglect, sexual abuse, substance abuse, or death occurred are at higher risk of developing BPD. Children also appear to be at risk for developing this disorder when they have a learning problem or certain temperaments. Adolescents who develop an alcohol-use disorder are also apparently at higher risk of developing BPD compared to those who do not.

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