What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

This video describes Borderline Personality Disorder. Personality Disorders are thought to be chronic and long lasting, however, treatments are available. Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by a number of potential symptoms including a fear of abandonment, a series of unstable relationships, self-identity changes, stress-related paranoia, risky and impulsive behavior, suicidal behavior or threats, mood swings, empty feelings, and anger. One of key features of Borderline Personality Disorder is the idealization/devaluation cycle, sometimes called the love/hate cycle. This two-stage cycle can sometimes lead to the abandonment that an individual with Borderline Personality Disorder fears. Borderline Personality Disorder responds to treatment to some degree in many individuals. Potential treatments include Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT), and group therapy. Borderline Personality Disorder is thought of as occurring more in women than in men, but evidence suggests it affects men and women in equal numbers.