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Borderline Personality Disorder


Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious psychiatric condition. A personality disorder is a general term for an abnormal, lifelong pattern of behavior and thoughts. People with a borderline personality are unstable in their self-image, moods, behavior, and relationships with others.

What is going on in the body?

No one knows what causes borderline personality disorder. The disorder may be associated with abnormalities in the structures and pathways in the brain that regulate emotion.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

The exact cause of borderline personality disorder is unknown. Most experts believe that the disorder is caused by a combination of the following factors:

  • being a victim of violence, such as rape
  • genetic factors
  • a history of child abuse
  • a series of traumatic events as a young adult
  • vulnerability to stress
  • People with BPD are more likely to have other psychiatric disorders, including:

  • alcohol abuse
  • acute situational anxiety\ \generalized anxiety disorder\ \ panic disorder \ \ post-traumatic stress disorder \ \phobias\ \ obsessive compulsive disorders \ ',CAPTION,'Anxiety Disorders');" onmouseout="return nd();">anxiety disorders
  • bipolar disorder
  • depression
  • drug abuse
  • other types of personality disorders

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