Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Treatment Specialist in Phoenix, AZ

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental illness, developed during adolescence or early adulthood, and characterized by emotional instability, impulsive behavior, distorted self-image, and unstable relationships. People with borderline personality disorder may suffer from extreme bouts of depression, anxiety, and anger that can last from a few hours to a few days. According to National Institute of Mental Health statistics, borderline personality disorder affects about 1.6% of adults in the United States today. That may sound like an insignificant number, but it represents approximately 4 million people in the U.S. alone who are living with this potentially devastating disorder.

Whilst there are several symptoms associated with borderline personality disorder, not everyone who has it will experience them all. Some people may only have a few symptoms while some have many, and they can be triggered by seemingly ordinary events. As with many conditions, the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms will vary depending on the individual and their illness.

Signs and symptoms of BPD can include

• mood swings
• unstable and distorted self-image
• viewing things in extremes, i.e. all good or all bad.
• erratic opinions of other people i.e. friend one day, enemy the next.
• unstable relationships
• Impulsive behaviors
• Self-harm
• Recurring suicidal thoughts or threats
• Intense and erratic moods, lasting from a few hours to a few days
• Chronic feelings of emptiness
• Inappropriate, intense anger
• Anger management issues
• Feelings of dissociation

The causes of borderline personality disorder are not clear, but research suggests that genetics, brain structure and function, and environmental, cultural, and social factors may increase the risk.

• Family History. Someone who has a close family member with borderline personality disorder may be at higher risk.
• Brain Factors.  Structural and functional changes in the brain have been detected in those suffering from BPD, especially in the areas of impulse control and emotion regulation, but it is unclear if these are risk factors for, or are caused by the disorder.
• Environmental, Cultural, and Social Factors.  Experiencing traumatic life events, such as abuse, abandonment, or adversity during childhood, as well as being exposed to unstable or unhealthy relationships, can cause a person to become more vulnerable to BPD.
• Gender. Females account for 75% of reported cases of BPD. 

Someone with one or more of these risk factors may not necessarily go on to develop BPD and, similarly, there will be people who have none of them but will end up developing the disorder at some point in their life.

As with any mental health illness, someone who is suspected of having borderline personality disorder should seek treatment if they find that their symptoms are having a significant, negative impact on their daily lives and relationships.  Early intervention is very important as, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) up to 40% of teens who are hospitalized have borderline personality disorder; and 10% of patients with the disorder will commit suicide. In addition, studies funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) show that people with borderline personality disorder who don’t receive timely and satisfactory treatment are less likely to make healthy lifestyle choices and are more likely to develop other chronic medical or mental illnesses.

If you would like to know more about borderline personality disorder or are concerned that someone who knows may need help, contact us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 2375 East Camelback RD Suite 600 Phoenix, AZ 85016. We serve patients from Phoenix AZ, Scottsdale AZ, Paradise Valley AZ, Alhambra AZ, Tempe AZ, and surrounding areas.