Personality Disorder. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a relative
newcomer in the field of diagnosable psychiatric illnesses.
The individual with the disorder and his or her family usually find
themselves in need of multiple support systems due to the complexities of the
diagnosis.
The symptoms of BPD can occur in a variety of combinations, and individuals
with the disorder have many, if not all of the following traits: fears of
abandonment, extreme mood swings, difficulty in relationships, unstable
self-image, difficulty managing emotions, impulsive behavior, self-injuring
acts, suicidal ideation, transient psychotic episodes.
Furthermore, BPD rarely stands alone and commonly occurs simultaneously with
other disorders, often preventing an accurate diagnosis. These can include eating
disorders, substance abuse, major
depression and bipolar disorder.