Borderline personality disorder is condition characterized by emotional dysregulation, with the affected person having problems with an unstable self-image and disordered ways of interacting and feeling. This leads to a pattern of difficulties with interpersonal relationships. Like many mental health conditions, there is no single known cause of borderline personality disorder. Genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors all may be involved.
Symptoms and signs reflect the disordered thinking and self-image and can include intense and inappropriate anger, anxiety, depression, guilt, loneliness, mood swings, paranoia, sadness, or suicidal thoughts or other thoughts of self-harm. Other associated symptoms can include grandiosity, narcissism, antisocial behavior, compulsive behavior, impulsivity, irritability, risk-taking behavior, self-harm, social isolation, unstable relationships, and insecurity.
Other borderline personality disorder symptoms and signs
- Anger
- Antisocial Behavior
- Anxiety
- Chronic Feelings of Boredom
- Compulsive Behavior
- Depression
- Difficulty Trusting Others
- Distorted Self-Image
- Feelings of Unreality
- Frantic Efforts to Avoid Imagined or Real Abandonment
- Grandiosity
- Guilt
- Hostility
- Impaired Social Relationships
- Impulsivity
- Irritability
- Lack of Restraint
- Loneliness
- Mood Swings
- Narcissism
- Risk-Taking Behaviors
- Sadness
- Self-Destructive Behaviors
- Self-Harm
- Shame
- Social Isolation
- Stress-Related Paranoia
- Suicidal Thoughts
Main Article on Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms and Signs

SLIDESHOW
17 Everyday Ways to Ease Depression See SlideshowPictures, Images, Illustrations & Quizzes
-
Bipolar Disorder (Mania) Quiz
Who is at risk for developing bipolar disorder? Are you? Take this Bipolar Disorder Quiz to learn more about bipolar disorder, if...
-
What Is Bipolar Disorder? Symptoms, Manic Episodes, Testing
Bipolar disorder (formerly "manic depression") causes extreme mood shifts and manic episodes. Learn about bipolar 1, bipolar 2,...
Examples of Medications for Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms and Signs
- alprazolam
- aripiprazole (Abilify)
- asenapine (Saphris)
- buspirone (Buspar)
- carbamazepine, Tegretol, Tegretol XR , Equetro, Carbatrol, Epitol, Teril
- Citalopram
- clonazepam
- clozapine (Clozaril, Fazacio ODT, Versacloz)
- diazepam (Valium, Diastat, Acudial, Diastat Pediatric, Diazepam Intensol)
- escitalopram
- fluoxetine
- haloperidol
- lamotrigine, Lamictal, Lamictal CD, Lamictal ODT, Lamictal XR
- lithium (Lithobid)
- lorazepam
- lurasidone hydrochloride (Latuda)
- olanzapine (Zyprexa, Zydis)
- oxcarbazepine - oral, Trileptal
- paliperidone
- quetiapine (Seroquel)
- risperidone, Risperdal; Risperdal Consta, Risperdal M-TAB
- sertraline
- topiramate
- valproic acid, divalproex, Depakote, Depakote Sprinkle, Depakote ER, Depakene, Depacon, Stavzor
From 
Mental Health Resources
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Subscribe to MedicineNet's Depression Newsletter
By clicking "Submit," I agree to the MedicineNet Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. I also agree to receive emails from MedicineNet and I understand that I may opt out of MedicineNet subscriptions at any time.