What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health disorder characterised by unstable interpersonal relationships, self-image, emotions, and impulsivity. Individuals with BPD often experience intense and unstable relationships, emotional dysregulation, identity disturbances, and impulsive behaviours. The exact cause of BPD is not fully understood, but it is believed to be influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors.

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Borderline Personality Disorder Myths

  • Borderline Personality Disorder is caused by drug and alcohol misuse.
  • Borderline Personality Disorder cannot be cured.
  • People with BPD need to be medicated.
  • Only women have Borderline Personality Disorder.
  • BPD is similar to Schizophrenia and Bipolar.
  • Having BPD means you cannot have healthy or long-term relationships.

Don’t be Fooled by Fake Quizzes

We know it’s overwhelming. Information about Borderline Personality Disorder can be confusing, with many online quizzes and articles oversimplifying symptoms or perpetuating harmful stereotypes. This makes it difficult to find the support and understanding you truly need.

We believe everyone deserves access to accurate, professional guidance when exploring their mental health. That’s why our comprehensive Borderline Personality pre-assessment tool is based on the DSM-5.

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Real BPD Symptoms

Borderline Personality Disorder symptoms can vary from person to person. Below are some commonly experienced BPD symptoms that you may have experienced, prompting you to consider the possibility of a BPD diagnosis:

Suicidal Behaviour or Threats

Do you ever feel like hurting yourself or talk about wanting to die, especially when you feel rejected or abandoned by others? Do you let others know you want to harm yourself in hopes they will be more supportive, change their behaviours or help you?

Emotional Instability

Do you find yourself feeling really strong emotions that change quickly and are hard to control? Do you have times when you feel extremely angry, anxious, or sad that can last for hours or even days?

Chronic Feelings of Emptiness

Do you often feel empty or bored inside, like there’s something missing or you will never be happy? 

Difficulty Managing Anger

Do you find it hard to control your anger and often have outbursts of intense anger that lead to impulsive actions or saying things you later regret?

Paranoid Ideation or Dissociation

Do you sometimes have fleeting thoughts that people are out to get you or feel like you’re not really connected to yourself or the world around you, especially when you’re stressed?

Self-Harming Behaviours

Do you ever hurt yourself on purpose, like cutting, burning your skin, overeating until you’re sick or engaging in intense substance use, when you’re feeling really overwhelmed or emotionally sensitive?

Uncertain Self-Image

Do you often feel like you don’t really know who you are, like yourself or does your sense of self keep changing? This can lead to a constant feeling of emptiness.

Impulsivity

Do you find yourself doing things without thinking, like driving recklessly, using drugs or alcohol heavily, eating a lot in a short time, or having risky sexual relationships when you’re feeling really upset?

Unstable Relationships

Do you find yourself having consistent conflicts with friends, employers, family and romantic partners? Or feeling as though they do not support you or are attacking you?

Intense Fear of Abandonment

Do you often feel really scared of being left alone or rejected by others, and do you find yourself doing whatever you can to avoid that feeling, even if it’s not really happening?

Did you answer Yes to one or more of the above symptoms?

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Diagnosing Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

To diagnose Borderline Personality Disorder, practitioners in Western Medicine typically rely on the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)*. This handbook provides a standardised set of guidelines for identifying and diagnosing mental disorders, including Borderline Personality Disorder. 

According to the DSM-V, to receive a diagnosis of BPD, the individual must have a persistent pattern of at least five of the nine criteria (5/9) below:

  • Feeling really scared of being left alone, even if it’s not real.
  • Having relationships that are up and down all the time.
  • Feeling like you don’t really know who you are.
  • Doing risky things without thinking, like spending too much or having unsafe sex.
  • Hurting yourself, thinking about hurting yourself or threatening to hurt yourself.
  • Going through big mood swings, feeling super down or anxious lasting hours to days.
  • Always feeling empty inside.
  • Getting really mad quickly or having trouble controlling your anger.
  • Having moments where you feel like you’re not really in touch with reality because of stress.

Based on this criteria we have developed a screening quiz looking at the core criteria of BPD. 

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FAQs about BPD

Borderline Personality Disorder can have a profound impact on relationships. Individuals with BPD often struggle with an intense fear of abandonment, which can lead to behaviours aimed at preventing perceived or real rejection. This may result in frequent conflicts or emotional outbursts. People with BPD may also experience rapid shifts in their view of others, alternating between idealising and devaluing them. This can make maintaining stable, healthy relationships difficult. The emotional intensity and impulsivity characteristic of BPD can lead to feelings of frustration and confusion for both the person with BPD and their loved ones.

Yes, BPD can be treated. Although it is a challenging condition, many people with BPD benefit from therapy. The most effective treatments include Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), which helps individuals regulate their emotions, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing negative thinking patterns. In some cases, medication may be prescribed to manage specific symptoms such as depression or anxiety.

The exact cause of BPD is not fully understood, but it is believed to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and social factors. According to research and the DSM-5, individuals with a history of childhood trauma, neglect, or abuse are at higher risk of developing BPD. Additionally, a family history of mental health disorders may also increase the likelihood of developing BPD.

BPD is diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional through a detailed clinical evaluation, which includes a thorough assessment of the individual’s symptoms and behaviour patterns over time. The DSM-5 criteria for BPD diagnosis require the presence of at least five of the following nine symptoms:

  • Fear of abandonment or being left alone.
  • Unstable relationships that alternate between extremes of idealisation and devaluation.
  • Rapidly shifting self-image and identity issues.
  • Impulsive behaviours, such as risky driving, spending sprees, or binge eating.
  • Intense, inappropriate anger or difficulty controlling anger.
  • Recurrent feelings of emptiness or hopelessness.
  • Self-harm or suicidal behaviour.

Diagnosis can be complex because BPD often co-occurs with other mental health conditions like depression or anxiety.

Borderline Personality Disorder is a mental health condition characterised by instability in moods, self-image, behaviour, and relationships. People with BPD often experience intense emotions, fear of abandonment, difficulty maintaining relationships, and impulsive behaviours. According to the DSM-5, these patterns typically begin in early adulthood and can significantly impact daily life.

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*The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is the gold standard used by Psychologists and Psychiatrists to diagnose mental health conditions. Created by the American Psychiatric Association, it’s a globally recognised guide that outlines the criteria for conditions like ADHD, Autism, and Bipolar Disorder and more. The most recent edition, the DSM-5-TR, was released in 2022.

DSM-5-TR offers detailed descriptions of various mental disorders, including their symptoms, prevalence, course, and associated features. It serves as a crucial reference for clinicians, researchers, educators, and policymakers in the field of mental health.

This manual helps clinicians accurately identify and diagnose mental health conditions, guiding treatment planning and interventions. It also facilitates communication among professionals by providing a common language and framework for understanding and discussing mental health disorders.

DSM-5-TR is periodically updated to reflect advancements in scientific understanding, changes in diagnostic criteria, and emerging trends in mental health research. It plays a vital role in shaping clinical practice, research initiatives, and public health policies related to mental health and psychiatric disorders.