Introduction
People develop various personality disorders, which affect their way of thinking. One of the most misunderstood mental disorders is borderline personality disorder (BPD). BPD can lead to momentous emotional instability. Subsequently, this can result in mental retardation. This paper will explore BPD; essentially, the paper will examine its history, symptoms, epidemiology, causes and treatment.
History of the disorder
BPD was first associated with schizophrenia and neuroses, among others. This association made it difficult to diagnose BPD precisely because it had common characteristics with many psychiatric diagnoses. In addition, it was believed that BPD reacted poorly to treatment. Unfortunately, some health professionals still hold to the belief that BPD can barely be treated. Research studies have shown that BPD can be diagnosed with sufficient soundness and integrity. Additionally, some of these studies have also shown that the disorder does not overlap with diseases such as schizophrenia, although it can co-occur with other diseases such as bipolar II disorders and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among others. Moreover, some forms of psychotherapy and medications have yielded results in treatment of BPD.
Victims of BPD were first observed nearly 3000 years ago. However, its symptoms were first brought forth by Adolph Stern in 1938. This was closely followed by Robert knightly in 1940s. Knightly, a psychoanalyst, introduced ego psychology in BPD. Two decades later, Otto Kernberg introduced organizations of BPD as neurotic, psychotic as well as borderline personality. A decade later, in 1979, antipsychotic agents were introduced by Robert Friedel and his colleagues. The decade beginning 1980 was a revelation in research for BPD. Genetic, neuro-imaging as well as biochemical studies showed that BPD relates to brain disturbances (biological). In 1993, DBT, also known as dielectric behavior therapy was introduced by Marsha Linehan for BPD patients. Since then, more forms of treatments for BPD have been developed. Moreover, advocacy groups have also been founded to improve research advancements on BPD. These groups include TARA -APD and NEA-BPD, among others (Friedel, 2012).
Diagnostic symptoms of the disorder
Diagnosis of BPD is usually done by trained mental health personnel. These may include psychiatrists and psychologists, among others. In most cases, mental health personnel compare patients’ symptoms with life history in order to decide on BPD diagnosis. Patients with BPD show numerous symptoms. Sometimes these include identity disturbance. In most cases, patients exhibit unstable sense of self. Additionally, patients show intense and unsteady relations. This oscillates between devaluation and idealization. Moreover, patients with BPD are highly impulsive. In most cases, they have two or more areas of impulsivity such as sex, drugs or eating, among others. Other diagnostic symptoms include persistent suicidal behavior.
Such patients tend to show self-mutilating incidences. Patients with BPD also exhibit elements of emotional instability. In most cases, they suffer from irritability, which last for hours. Intense reactivity of mood leads to emotional instability in BPD patients. Patients with BPD also experience persistent feelings of worthlessness. This makes them lonely and empty. Additionally, patients with BPD exhibit intense anger that can sometimes be inappropriate. Such patients usually have recurrent physical fights and anger. Additionally, BPD patients exhibit transitory paranoid ideas (Psych Central, 2014).
Epidemiology of the disorder
As mentioned above, BPD is considered a severe mental disease, which can affect an individual’s relationships, behavior or moods. Based on past occurrences, BPD starts either in adolescence or on the onset of adulthood. History also shows that individuals with the BPD tend to have unstable relations, have problems controlling their thoughts or emotions and are impulsive as well as reckless in some instances. It is estimated that about 5.9 percent of adults experience BPD in their life (NEABPD, 2014). Additionally, it is estimated that BPD affects more individuals than schizophrenia. Moreover, the disease affects more people than bipolar as well as Alzheimer’s disease. It is estimated that co-morbidities occur in more than 85 percent of adults with BPD. It should also be noted that BPD tends to decrease with age as patients approach 40s. Unfortunately, compete suicide also happens in about 10 percent of patients with BPD (Kernberg & Michels, 2009).
Causes
A number of beliefs have been utilized to explain the causes of BPD. However, the most common causes come from social (environmental), behavioral (cognitive) or biological factors. Biological agents include genetic factors, which are believed to augment the chances of having BPD. For examples, children who undergo poor parenting may have increased chances of developing BPD. However, it should be noted that there is no solitary cause of BPD. Additionally, there is no single risk factor, which accounts for BPD. In essence, BPD may be caused by a combination of many causes and risk factors. It has also been established that genetic inclination appears to cause BPD. In this regards, environmental disposition is believed to increase the risk but does not necessarily cause BPD. Subsequently, biological and environmental risk factors can interact to cause BPD when they reach a critical level.
Research studies have shown that more than 60 percent of BPD causes are associated with biological risk factors. These studies have shown genetic abnormalities in brain circuits that affect reasoning and perception. Furthermore, present studies indicate that not a single gene can be pointed to cause BPD. Additionally, it has been establish that patients with BPD can pass these genes to others.
Environmental factors that increase the chances of an individual to develop BPD include poor parenting and related activities. Others include premature separation of parents, persistent abuse, and inconsistent care, among others. Nonetheless, even children who have not faced social traumas can also develop BPD. This is explained by the fact that biological risk factors are stronger than environmental factors. Imaging studies on BPD patients have shown deformities in the brain functions as well as brain structure. This proves that biological risk factors are stronger in influencing development of BPD than environmental risk factors (NAMI, 2014).
Current Treatment methods of the disorder
Treatment of persons with BPD has faced many challenges overtime. For instance, family members and friends of BPD patents have always found it difficult to place faith on primary therapist to treat the disease. Treatment of BPD can follow in five steps namely hospitalization, medication, psychotherapy, group modalities and family therapy. While hospitalization is strictly done in order to manage the crisis, medication provides a comprehensive treatment of the patient with BPD. On the other hand, psychotherapy is considered the keystone of treatment for BPD patients. During treatment, it is essential that patients develop a safe connection with the therapist as this increases survival chances. Psychotherapy is presently done in three main approaches namely, supportive, psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral methods. Group modalities involve interventions such as CBT and DBT, which are more like classes than conventional medication. On the other hand, family therapy requires family intervention in which the family bears a considerable burden in the recovery of the patient (NAMI, 2014).
Conclusion
BPD is a serious mental illness that affects the way patients handle their relations. In addition, it makes one highly impulsive and bored. BPD is caused by various factors, which range from environmental to biological risk factors. However, the latter causes are more influential than the former causes. Treatment of BPD may require hospitalization, medication, psychotherapy, group modalities and family therapy depending on diagnosis.
Reference List
Friedel, R. (2012). Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified History of the Disorder. Web.
Kernberg, F., & Michels, R. (2009). Borderline personality disorder. Am J Psychiatry, 166(5), 505–508.
NAMI (2014). Mental Illnesses: Borderline Personality Disorder. Web.
NEABPD (2014). BPD Overview: About Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Web.
Psych Central (2014). Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms. Web.