Risk factors

Some factors related to personality development can increase the risk of developing borderline personality disorder. These include:

Hereditary predisposition. You may be at a higher risk if a close relative — your mother, father, brother or sister — has the same or a similar disorder.

Stressful childhood. Many people with the disorder report being sexually or physically abused or neglected during childhood. Some people have lost or were separated from a parent or close caregiver when they were young or had parents or caregivers with substance misuse or other mental health issues. Others have been exposed to hostile conflict and unstable family relationships.

Complications

Borderline personality disorder can damage many areas of your life. It can negatively affect intimate relationships, jobs, school, social activities and self-image, resulting in: symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder

Repeated job changes or losses

Not completing an education

Multiple legal issues, such as jail time

Conflict-filled relationships, marital stress or divorce

Self-injury, such as cutting or burning, and frequent hospitalizations

Involvement in abusive relationships

Unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, motor vehicle accidents and physical fights due to impulsive and risky behavior

Attempted or completed suicide

In addition, you may have other mental health disorders, such as:

Depression

Alcohol or other substance misuse

Anxiety disorders

Eating disorders

Bipolar disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Other personality disorders

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition. People with BPD have extreme mood swings, unstable relationships and trouble controlling their emotions. They have a higher risk of suicide and self-destructive behavior. Talk therapy is the main treatment for BPD.

What is borderline personality disorder (BPD)?

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition marked by extreme mood fluctuations, instability in interpersonal relationships and impulsivity.

People with BPD have an intense fear of abandonment and have trouble regulating their emotions, especially anger. They also tend to show impulsive and dangerous behaviors, such as reckless driving and threatening self-harm. All of these behaviors make it difficult for them to maintain relationships.