Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Borderline Personality Disorder is a serious mental health condition marked by instability in mood, self-image, and relationships, as well as impulsivity. Common features include intense fears of abandonment, chronic emptiness, rapid mood shifts, anger, and recurrent self-harm or suicidal behavior. Stress-related paranoia or dissociation may occur during emotional crises3,4.
BPD affects an estimated 0.7% to 2.7% of the population, with symptoms often emerging in adolescence or early adulthood. If untreated, it can cause significant impairment in social, occupational, and personal functioning1.
The APA’s 2025 guidelines recommend psychotherapy as first-line treatment, with strong evidence for dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mentalization-based therapy (MBT), transference-focused therapy (TFT), and general psychiatric management. Medications do not address core BPD features but may help with specific symptoms or co-occurring disorders when used judiciously2.
Primary care and behavioral health providers play a critical role in early recognition, suicide risk assessment, referral to evidence-based care, and coordinated, integrated management to support safety, adherence, and long-term recovery.
- American Psychiatric Association. (2025, January 15). APA updates guidance on borderline personality disorder. NEI Global.
- APA Monitor. (2025, April–May). Treating patients with borderline personality disorder. American Psychological Association.
- Comprehensive review of borderline personality disorder. (2024, February). World Psychiatric Association Journal.
- StatPearls. (2025, January 20). Borderline Personality Disorder. National Library of Medicine.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2024, January 31). Borderline personality disorder: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic.
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