What causes borderline personality disorder? Some theories, Some thoughts...
Surprisingly, little is known about what brain mechanisms might contribute to the development of borderline personality disorder. However, through imaging studies, it has been shown that parts of the brain's limbic system (which regulates emotion) are abnormally small. The areas that are reduced in size appear to be areas that regulate negative moods. Additionally, these limbic areas, including the amygdala, tend to be hyperactive. It has been theorized that this reduction in size of the limbic structures may be related to the loss of inhibitory neurons resulting in the patients' brain having less control of behavior and negative emotions, leading to impulsivity and overly negative reactions to events (Meyer-Lindberg, 2009).
Abnormal brain activity and trauma: Link to BPD What causes this abnormal brain activity? Most research indicates that BPD commonly arises from a combination of a genetic predisposition and severe trauma in early childhood. Not everyone who is traumatized as a child gets BPD, but a combination of risk genes may heighten the impact of trauma on the developing brain (Meyer-Lindberg, 2009). Recent research suggests that individuals suffering from BPD have imbalances in the neurotransmitters that regulate emotion and impulse control. Serotonin is one neurotransmitter believed to play a significant role in BPD. When individuals suffer from this type of an imbalance, life stresses can easily overwhelm their coping abilities" (MacFarlane, 2015). Nature vs. Nurture Borderline personality is more common than average in the families of people with the disorder. Many of the personality components of the ailment, including impulsiveness and aggression, are highly heritable. Moreover, researchers have linked genetic variants, such as those involved in the neurotransmission of serotonin, to the disorder (Meyer-Lindberg, 2009). Environmental and Biological Factors The roles of both environmental and biological factors are thought to play a role in people who develop this illness. While no specific gene has been shown to directly cause BPD, a number of different genes have been identified as playing a role in its development. The brain’s functioning, as seen in MRI testing, is often different in people with BPD, suggesting that there is a neurological basis for some of the symptoms associated with BPD (Duckworth & Freedman, 2012). Adults who come from families of origin where divorce, neglect, sexual abuse, substance abuse, or death occurred are at higher risk of developing BPD. In children, the risk for developing this disorder appears to increase when they have a learning problem or certain temperaments. Adolescents who develop alcohol abuse or addiction are also apparently at higher risk of developing BPD compared to those who do not. Shame and Anger Recent theoretical and empirical work suggests that adults with BPD have particular difficulties regulating shame and anger-related emotions. Moreover, several authors have suggested that anger-related affects may be elicited in the context of intense shame among individuals with BPD, perhaps as a defensive attempt to deflect attention away from the shamed self and direct blame to others ( Scott, Stepp, Hallquist, Whalen, Wright, & Pilkonis, 2014). |
Faces afflicted with borderline personality disorder...Marsha Linehan, PhD. best known for her work with Dialectical Behavior Therapy-an evidenced based therapy for borderline personality disorder "comes out" and reveals that she too suffers from this disorder. She acknowledges this, in order to reduce the prejudice surrounding the diagnosis and label given to this disorder (Grohol, 2011).
RESOURCES and LINKS http://www.medicinenet.com/borderline_personality_disorder/page4.htm Populations affected by Borderline Personality Disorder: Results suggest that 2.7% of adults in the United States meet diagnostic criteria for BPD, with nearly equal rates of the disorder between males and females, people in lower income brackets, people younger than 30, and individuals who are separated or divorced. Racial/ethnic differences were evident, with Native Americans (5.0%) and Blacks (3.5%) having significantly higher rates of the disorder, on average, and Asians having significantly lower rates (1.2%). Individuals with a BPD diagnosis were likely to have co-occurring lifetime mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and other personality disorders. Specifically, 84.8% of individuals with BPD also had a lifetime anxiety disorder, 82.7% had a lifetime mood disorder/epi- sode, and 78.2% were diagnosed with a lifetime substance use disor- der. Individuals with BPD showed significant impairment in functioning and were highly likely to seek therapy or receive medication for mental health concerns. (Rachel L. Tomko, MA, Timothy J. Trull, PhD, Phillip K. Wood, PhD, and Kenneth J. Sher, PhD, 2014). |