What is borderline personality disorder? Essay -- Psychology, Emocion

According to the DSM-IV(2000), Borderline Personality Disorder is a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following: 1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. 2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation 3. Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self 4. Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating) 5. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behaviour 6. Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days ) 7. Chronic feelings of emptiness 8. Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights) 9. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms (DSM IV; American Psychiatric Association, 2000). According to American psychiatric association, Consumer & Family Information (2001), people with the disorder experience a great deal of anxiety and psychological distress, and they have difficulties at school or work. They can learn to manage the disorder, but the disorder itself is life long. People who have borderline personality disorder can be very sensitive to the way others treat them, reacting strongly to criticism or misinterpreting oth... ...ed psychotherapies have demonstrated efficacy for some BPD symptoms in randomized controlled clinical trials. In conclusion, borderline personality disorder is characterized by instability of emotions, periodic impulsive and self-destructive behavior, and troubled relationships with other people. Despite the positive findings of the treatments for some patients and some symptoms of the disorder, comprehensive BPD treatment continues to be a challenge. The BPD symptoms least impacted by psychotherapeutic treatment are those more related to temperament and the ability to function effectively in occupational and social roles (Binks et al., 2006 as cited in Joan et al 2009). Medications that targeted some symptoms of borderline personality disorder have also been used. However, this practice has been proven to have different side effects and not reliably effective.