Not Pissed Tonight, Just Sharing--Borderline Personality Disorder DSM IV Criteria and Information

Borderline Personality Disorder DSM IV Criteria

A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:  
  1. frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.
  2. a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.
  3. identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.
  4. impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating). Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.
  5. recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior
  6. affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).
  7. chronic feelings of emptiness
  8. inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)
  9. transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a chronic, debilitating biological disorder affecting the limbic system of the brain that controls emotions. People with BPD have difficulty regulating their emotions. Thus BPD is also known as emotional regulation disorder (ERD).¹ Since the BPD is a medical disorder, proper medications must come before therapy.

• 2% of adults have this disorder.
• 20% present in psychiatric hospitals.
• 11% in outpatient clinics.

The term BPD was coined during a time when little was known about this disorder. This name does not describe the disorder accurately and a new name needs to take it's place. Emotional regulation disorder is very commonly used along with emotional intensity disorder.

And lastly, a really neat article: http://www.borderlinepersonalitytoday.com/main/art1.htm