Part 2: Examining Cluster B Personalities (BPD)
Defining Borderline Personality Disorder in Laymans Terms
Nov 14, 2009
Question: What Is Borderline Personality Disorder?
The answer to this question is as complex as the disorder itself. There are a variety of characteristics and qualities that lead doctors and mental health professionals to a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, or BPD. The two most common terms that are used when this disorder is being discussed are “instability” and “impulsivity” (or “impulsiveness”). It is these two qualities that drive most, if not all, behaviors in an individual suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder.
The Clinical Definition of BPD
Psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health clinicians use what is known as the clinical bible in the field of diagnosis. This ‘bible’ is called the DSM-IV, which stands for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th Edition). The DSM-IV is used to define, classify, categorize, and organize mental disorders to help doctors and clinicians come to a diagnosis when they are treating a patient or client.
The DSM-IV defines Borderline Personality Disorder as “a pervasive instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image and affects, as well as marked impulsivity, beginning in early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts.”
The Layperson’s Definition of Borderline Personality Disorder
To get a good idea on what constitutes Borderline Personality Disorder, the following mnemonic for the word “PRAISE” is commonly used to highlight its most common characteristics:
P – Paranoia, which is high in people with this disorder, and often involves a strong fear or paranoia of abandonment.
R – Relationships, and a common theme of instability across all major relationships.
A – Anger management issues, common outbursts of anger. ‘A’ could also stand for Abandonment, or instable Affect, which is another word for ‘emotion’ or ‘mood’.
I – Impulsive behavior. ‘I’ could also stand for Identity issues.
S – Suicidal tendencies or Self-harm.
E – Empty feelings are described often. ‘E’ could also stand for Emotional irregularities
Why Is it Called “Borderline”?
The term “borderline” was used back in the 1930’s when psychologists described the disorder as one being on the ‘border’ between neurotic and psychotic. Patients and their outbursts were described as having the potential to ‘go over the edge’ at any time. Nowadays, though the term ”borderline” still exists, it refers to the unstable emotions within the individual. Those with BPD do not have consistent mood patterns, and thus appear on the ‘border’ between one mood and another from one minute to the next.
For example, people with this disorder could feel or appear happy and content one minute, but in the next they will have an outburst or temper flare. Just as easily, these individuals could move back to their original content state. These individuals are on the border of mood swings on a very regular basis and are often unpredictable because of this. In fact, the term “emotion regulation” is a term you may hear a lot if you or someone you know suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder.
Additional Resources:
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR 2000. Washington D.C. Author.
Friedel, R.O., P.D. Hoffman, D. Penney, and P. Woodward. Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified: An Essential Guide for Understanding and Living with BPD. 2004. Marlowe & Co.
"Borderline Personality Disorder: An Overview." Psychiatric Times. 2004. 21:8. July 2004.
