About BPD
The Basics
BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder)
Simple explanation- Mood disorder, a very wide emotional range and very intense, disordered emotional responses. Can be painful and exhausting, though the ups are fairly high too. BPD is a mood disorder like depression or bipolar disorder, but unlike those is more therapy-treated than treated with medication. Though there's a physical chemical effect in the brain in the duration of emotional input, it is the result of years of training rather than just chemical imbalances, so treatment is a slow process of re-learning, often helped with medication to treat symptoms. Environmental and genetic factors can both contribute to likelihood of developing BPD. There is also a high risk of co-morbid disorders (particularly depression, anorexia, OCD, anger issues, suicidal tendencies). Is one of the major causes in a large percentage of suicide attempts. It can be treated quite effectively in those willing to go through therapy, even if they've shown the worst symptoms and been hospitalized.
Major Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria
(find the little chart thing)
History
Formerly considered on the border of a mood disorder and a psychoaffective disorder. I'll have to write more of this when I actually have my BPD resources open instead of job applications.
Causes
BPD is usually caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There is at least some evidence of genetic factors playing a role, and it often affects people who have an innate sensitivity anyways, but typically to develop BPD there has to be an invalidating environment.
Prognosis and Treatment
Primarily therapy treated, specifically with dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). Many people (34%?) start going into remission (with a low incidence of relapses) after two years of therapy, and the number increases over time until one study showed that 86% of patients were in remission after 10 years of treatment. The earlier it's caught the better the prognosis, just like with any other medical disorder.
More Technical Information
Sciencey Info about BPD:- How it affects the brain (amygdala), how it's formed (genetic and nurture factors)
Is It Really A Big Deal?
Yes. Yes it is.
Imagine living your life without your outer layer of skin...
Yes, this is a real disorder.
Yes, this is a treatable disorder, with a high recovery rate as long as people seek treatment.
It typically takes someone hitting their version of rock bottom before they seek treatment though.
Explanation of what every day is like with BPD
(BPD Comics!)
No comments:
Post a Comment