Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a seriousResearchers believe that BPD results from a
mental illness characterized by pervasive instability incombination of individual vulnerability to environmental
moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, andstress, neglect or abuse as young children, and a
behavior. This instability often disrupts family andseries of events that trigger the onset of the
work life, long-term planning, and the individual's sensedisorder as young adults. Adults with BPD are also
of self-identity.considerably more likely to be the victim of violence,
Originally thought to be at the "borderline" ofincluding rape and other crimes. This may result from
psychosis, people with BPD suffer from a disorder ofboth harmful environments as well as impulsivity and
emotion regulation. While less well known thanpoor judgement in choosing partners and lifestyles.
schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (manic-depressiveNIMH-funded neuroscience research is revealing brain
illness), BPD is more common, affecting 2 percent ofmechanisms underlying the impulsively, mood
adults, mostly young women. There is a high rate ofinstability, aggression, anger, and negative emotion
self-injury without suicide intent, as well as aseen in BPD. Studies suggest that people predisposed
significant rate of suicide attempts and completedto impulsive aggression have impaired regulation of
suicide in severe cases.the neural circuits that modulate emotion. The
Patients often need extensive mental health services,amygdala, a small almond-shaped structure deep
and account for 20 percent of psychiatricinside the brain, is an important component of the
hospitalizations.4 Yet, with help, many improve overcircuit that regulates negative emotion.
time and are eventually able to lead productive lives.In response to signals from other brain centers
Symptomsindicating a perceived threat, it marshals fear and
While a person with depression or bipolar disorderarousal. This might be more pronounced under the
typically endures the same mood for weeks, ainfluence of drugs like alcohol, or stress. Areas in the
person with BPD may experience intense bouts offront of the brain (pre-frontal area) act to dampen
anger, depression and anxiety that may last onlythe activity of this circuit. Recent brain imaging
hours, or at most a day. These may be associatedstudies show that individual differences in the ability
with episodes of impulsive aggression, self-injury, andto activate regions of the prefrontal cerebral cortex
drug or alcohol abuse. Distortions in cognition andthought to be involved in inhibitory activity predict
sense of self can lead to frequent changes inthe ability to suppress negative emotion.
long-term goals, career plans, jobs, friendships,Serotonin, norepinephrine and acetylcholine are among
gender identity, and values.the chemical messengers in these circuits that play a
Sometimes people with BPD view themselves asrole in the regulation of emotions, including sadness,
fundamentally bad, or unworthy. They may feelanger, anxiety and irritability. Drugs that enhance brain
unfairly misunderstood or mistreated, bored, empty,serotonin function may improve emotional symptoms
and have little idea who they are. Such symptomsin BPD.
are most acute when people with BPD feel isolatedLikewise, mood-stabilizing drugs that are known to
and lacking in social support, and may result in franticenhance the activity of GABA, the brain's major
efforts to avoid being alone.inhibitory neurotransmitter, may help people who
People with BPD often have highly unstable patternsexperience BPD-like mood swings. Such brain-based
of social relationships. While they can develop intensevulnerabilities can be managed with help from
but stormy attachments, their attitudes towardsbehavioral interventions and medications, much like
family, friends, and loved ones may suddenly shiftpeople manage susceptibility to diabetes or high blood
from idealization (great admiration and love) topressure.
devaluation (intense anger and dislike). Thus, theyFuture Progress
may form an immediate attachment and idealize theStudies that translate basic findings about the neural
other person, but when a slight separation or conflictbasis of temperament, mood regulation and cognition
occurs, they switch unexpectedly to the otherinto clinically relevant insights-which bear directly on
extreme and angrily accuse the other person of notBPD-represent a growing area of NIMH-supported
caring for them at all.research. Research is also underway to test the
Even with family members, individuals with BPD areefficacy of combining medications with behavioral
highly sensitive to rejection, reacting with anger andtreatments like DBT, and gauging the effect of
distress to such mild separations as a vacation, achildhood abuse and other stress in BPD on brain
business trip, or a sudden change in plans. Thesehormones.
fears of abandonment seem to be related toData from the first prospective, longitudinal study of
difficulties feeling emotionally connected to importantBPD, which began in the early 1990s, is expected to
persons when they are physically absent, leaving thereveal how treatment affects the course of the
individual with BPD feeling lost and perhapsillness. It will also pinpoint specific environmental
worthlessness. Suicide threats and attempts mayfactors and personality traits that predict a more
occur along with anger at perceived abandonmentfavorable outcome. The Institute is also collaborating
and disappointments.with a private foundation to help attract new
People with BPD exhibit other impulsive behaviors,researchers to develop a better understanding and
such as excessive spending, binge eating and riskybetter treatment for BPD.
sex. BPD often occurs together with otherLeading Psychiatrists are calling Arthur a 'walking
psychiatric problems, particularly bipolar disorder,miracle'-After 15 years in mental institutions, absorbing
depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, andinhumane shock treatments, abusing alcohol, he's now
other personality disorders.being called worldwide' The Zig Ziglar of Mental Illness
Treatment'Read about his amazing comeback and what #1
Treatments for BPD have improved in recent years.best-selling author Mike Litman has called The Most
Group and individual psychotherapy are at leastInspirational Book of 2002' Out of Darkness - One
partially effective for many patients. Within the pastMan's Journey From The Depths Of Mental Illness to
15 years, a new psychosocial treatment termedPure Joy
dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was developedThey are calling Arthur Buchanan's methods of
specifically to treat BPD, and this technique hasrecovering from mental illness REVOLUTIONARY!
looked promising in treatment studies. Pharmacological(MEDICAL COLLEGE OF MICHIGAN) 'Arthur Buchanan
treatments are often prescribed based on specifichas given us a revolutionary blue print for recovery in
target symptoms shown by the individual patient.these uncertain times, when Mental Illness at a all
Antidepressant drugs and mood stabilizers may betime high in the United States of America, yet if you
helpful for depressed and/or labile mood.follow this young mans methods, we assure you of
Antipsychotic drugs may also be used when therepositive results and I QUOTE 'If these methods are
are distortions in thinking.followed precisely, their is no way you can't see
Recent Research Findingspositive results with whatever illness you have' Dr.
Although the cause of BPD is unknown, bothHerbert Palos Detroit, Michigan'
environmental and genetic factors are thought toListen to Arthur Buchanan on the Mike Litman Show!
play a role in predisposing patients to BPD symptomsTHIS LINK WORKS, LISTEN TODAY!
and traits. Studies show that many, but not allWith Much Love,
individuals with BPD report a history of abuse,Arthur Buchanan
neglect, or separation as young children. Forty to 71President/CEO
percent of BPD patients report having been sexuallyOut of Darkness & Into the Light
abused, usually by a non-caregiver.43 Oakwood Ave.