Borderline Personality

Disorder (BPD)
This factsheet has information on borderline personality disorder (BPD),
including symptoms, causes and treatments. You might find it helpful if
you have BPD, or if you know someone who has it.
Borderline personality disorder is also called Emotionally Unstable
Personality Disorder (EUPD). In this factsheet, we call it BPD.

BPD means that you have strong emotions you find it hard to cope
with. You may feel upset or angry a lot of the time.

Around 1 in 100 people have BPD.

There are different reasons why people get BPD. A lot of people
with BPD have had problems in their childhood.

There are different ways to treat BPD. The NHS will normally offer
you therapy.

Having BPD may make it more likely that you will self-harm and
have problems with relationships, alcohol or drugs. There is help
available.

This factsheet covers:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

What is borderline personality disorder (BPD)?

What are the symptoms of BPD and how is it diagnosed?
What are the different types of BPD?
What causes BPD?
How is BPD treated?
What treatments should the NHS offer me?
What if I am not happy with my treatment?
What self care and management skills can I try?
What risks and complications can BPD cause?
Information for carers, friends and relatives
1

Top
1. What is borderline personality disorder (BPD)?
BPD is an illness that makes you feel distressed and affects your
relationships with other people. Around 1 in 100 people have BPD. It
seems to affect men and women equally, but women are more likely to
have this diagnosis. This may be because men are less likely to ask for
help.1
If you have BPD, you may have problems with: 2

feeling isolated or abandoned by others,

self harming or suicidal thoughts,
coping with stress,
getting on with other people,
strong emotions that you find it hard to cope with,
drinking or using drugs,
understanding other peoples points of view,
staying in work,
having a long-term relationship, or
being able to maintain a home.

It is called borderline because doctors used to think it was on the border

between two different disorders. They now know this isnt the right way to
describe it, but the name has stuck.3
BPD is a type of personality disorder. Some people with a personality
disorder think that the name is insulting or makes them feel labeled.4 But
doctors do not use this term to make you feel judged or suggest that the
illness is your fault. It is meant to describe the way the illness develops.
Sams experience
On a bad day, my distress levels go through the roof. I feel unloved,
empty and helpless. I feel worse when my partner goes out to see friends,
which makes me feel like they dont care about me. At times I hate
everyone and everything, which I deal with by cutting myself with a razor
and by drinking alcohol.

You can find more information about other personality disorders in our
Personality disorders factsheet, which you can download for free from
www.rethink.org or call 0121 522 7007 and ask for a copy to be sent to
you.
Top
2. What are the symptoms of BPD and how is it diagnosed?
If your GP thinks that you may have borderline personality disorder (BPD),
they will arrange for you to see a psychiatrist. They may send your details
2

to your local community mental health team (CMHT). This is called a

referral.
Your psychiatrist will decide if you have an illness based on the following
guidelines.

International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), produced by the

World Health Organisation (WHO), and
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5),
produced by the American Psychiatric Association.

The guidelines tell your psychiatrist what to look for. They will diagnose
you with BPD if you have at least five of the symptoms below.5

Extreme reactions to feeling abandoned

Unstable relationships with others
Confused feelings about who you are
Being impulsive in ways that could be damaging. For example,
spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, and binge eating
Regular suicidal behaviour, threats, or self-harming
Long lasting feelings of emptiness
Difficulty controlling your anger. For example, losing your temper or
getting into fights
Intense, highly changeable moods
Paranoid thoughts when youre stressed

Your psychiatrist will ask you about how you feel and about your life
history. They may talk to other people close to you. They can diagnose
you after one assessment if they have enough information to do this.6
Psychiatrists will not usually diagnose BPD in someone who is under 16.7,8
Top
3. What are the different types of BPD?
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is also known as emotionally
unstable personality disorder (EUPD). In England, doctors use both of
these terms.
If your doctor says you have EUPD, they may say you have borderline or
impulsive type EUPD. There are small differences but there is some
overlap between these illnesses.
Borderline-type
If you have borderline-type EUPD you may have more difficulties with
relationships, self-harming and feelings of emptiness.
Impulsive-type
If you have impulsive-type EUPD you may have more difficulties with
impulsive behaviour and angry feelings.
3

Top
4. What causes BPD?
There are different factors that can lead to someone getting borderline
personality disorder (BPD).9 People will usually have experienced
difficulties in their childhood. This could include neglect or physical,
emotional or sexual abuse.
Top
5. What are the treatments for BPD?
You and your doctor will decide what treatment to try. The main treatment
for borderline personality disorder (BPD) is psychological therapy, also
called talking therapy. This may be one-to-one or in a group. There can
be long waiting lists for therapy.
We have listed some types of psychological therapies below. Not all of
these will be available on the NHS in your area.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
DBT is helpful for people with BPD.10 DBT helps you to build skills to deal
with distress. Therapists call this emotional regulation. DBT can help
you learn how to control harmful ways of coping with distress, such as
self-harming11 or using drugs or alcohol.12
Mindfulness
The NHS may offer you a place on a mindfulness course. Mindfulness
can help you to manage your emotions by focusing on the here and
now.13 You may also do mindfulness in DBT (see above).
Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT)
CAT helps you to understand problems you have in relationships. You
and your therapist will work together to understand these patterns and try
change them. This may be useful if you switch between liking and
disliking people who are close to you.
Mentalisation-Based-Therapy (MBT)
This sort of therapy may help you if you make assumptions about what
other people think or feel. You may base these assumptions on the worstcase scenario rather than more likely explanations. For example, if
someone you care about wants to do something by themselves, you might
think they dont care about you, hate you or they will never want to come
back. These feelings might make you panic and feel angry.
Mentalising is about understanding other peoples behaviour and your
reaction to it. You do this by thinking about thoughts, intentions, needs and
desires. It is about being aware of whats going on in your own mind. This
will help you to try to take a more balanced view about what might be
4

going on in other peoples minds. This kind of therapy might help you if
you worry about being abandoned.
Schema therapy
Schema therapy looks at patterns of behaviour and emotional states. You
may act in different ways in different situations, and your therapist might
call these modes. The therapy tries to find the right mode for you to
move forward and deal with situations in the best way you can.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
This therapy focuses on your unconscious. Your unconscious is the part
of your mind that controls beliefs, emotions or behaviours without you
thinking about them.
Therapists think that past experiences, especially those in your childhood,
can affect your unconscious. The therapist will try to link your current
problems to past events. This may help to explain why you feel the way
you do.
Therapeutic Communities
Therapeutic communities are not a treatment themselves. They are places
you can go to have treatment. They may be specific for certain groups of
people. For example, some may be for young women who have problems
with alcohol or drugs. They sometimes have a religious link.
You may stay for a few weeks or months, or you may visit for just a few
hours a week. You may have group therapy and self-help sessions.
There may also be other group activities such as gardening and help with
daily living skills.
Therapeutic communities vary a lot because they are often run by the
people who use them and they shape them based on what they want.
Medication
There is no medication to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). But
your doctor may give you medication if you have another mental illness
like anxiety or depression as well as BPD.14 They may offer you
medication in a crisis, but this isnt helpful as a long-term treatment.15
Top
6. What treatment should the NHS offer me?
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) offers
guidance on what the NHS should offer you. You can find this guidance at
www.nice.org.uk. The NICE guidance sets out best practice for the NHS.
You cannot force the NHS to offer you a service that NICE recommends.
But if your local NHS doesnt offer you appropriate treatment then you can
complain.
5

The NICE guidance says your doctor might offer you therapy if your
borderline personality disorder (BPD) causes you significant problems.
This therapy should not be less than three months.16 The guidance says
that the NHS should offer dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) to women
with BPD if they self-harm regularly.17
You may get support from a specialist service if your symptoms are getting
worse.18 The NHS should not refuse to give you specialist help because
of your diagnosis. They should have services to support people with
BPD.19
Top
7. What if I am not happy with my treatment?
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
If you are unhappy about your care or treatment, you could call your local
PALS. They can try to help answer your questions about the complaints
procedure. You can find PALS details at www.nhs.uk/ServiceSearch/Patient-advice-and-liaison-services-(PALS)/LocationSearch/363.
Advocacy
An advocate is independent from mental health services. They can help
you to voice your opinion and resolve problems. They may be able to help
you to write letters or go to appointments or meetings with you.
Diagnosis
If you are unhappy with your diagnosis, you could ask for a second
opinion. You do not have a legal right to a second opinion, but it is
important to ask if it is important to you.
Complaints
If you cannot resolve the problem, you can make a complaint to have your
concerns investigated in more detail.
You can find more information about:

Advocacy
Complaints
Second Opinions

at www.rethink.org. Or call 0121 522 7007 and ask for the information to
be sent to you.

Top
6

8. What self care and management skills can I try?

You might find some of the following things helpful.20

Make sure you speak to a doctor if you think that your relationships
with others are being affected.
Think about how you will benefit from making changes to your
lifestyle.
Dont pay too much attention to the name of the illness. BPD is a
common condition and it is not meant to label you or to suggest that
your situation wont change.
If youre offered group therapy or support, give it a chance. It may
seem intimidating to start with but a lot of people find it helpful in the
long-run.
If something annoys or upsets you, try to wait a while before
responding.
Try to find ways of relaxing. Meditation, breathing techniques,
listening to music and exercising may be helpful.
Look for patterns in the ways you respond to things that upset you.
This may help you to work through problems in relationships.
If you self-harm to deal with distress, think of other ways to deal
with this. Try punching a pillow or writing about how you feel.

You can find more information on www.rethink.org about:

Recovery
Self-harm
Suicidal feelings how to cope

Or call 0121 522 7007 and ask for a copy to be sent to you.
Top
9. What risks and complications can BPD cause?
Self-harm
It is common for people who have borderline personality disorder (BPD) to
self-harm. Some people find self-harming can help them to deal with
painful feelings. But it can cause serious injury, scars, infections, or
accidental death. A big focus of BPD treatment is to find other ways to
deal with painful emotions.
Drugs and alcohol
People with BPD may behave impulsively, drink too much or take drugs.
You may be at an increased risk of becoming dependent on alcohol or
drugs if you have BPD.21
If you drink a lot or use drugs, you may find it difficult to get BPD
treatment. You may be less likely to want help, or your substance use
may get in the way of your treatment.
7

When you have a mental illness and a problem with drink or drugs,
professionals call this dual diagnosis.
You can find more about Dual Diagnosis at www.rethink.org. Or call 0121
522 7007 and ask for the information to be sent to you.
Impulsive behaviours
When people make decisions quickly without thinking about the
consequences, doctors call this impulsive. This can include driving
erratically, having more sexual partners, and spending money without
thinking.
Some people with BPD may have unprotected sex with people they dont
know very well.22 This can lead to sexually transmitted diseases or an
unwanted pregnancy.
BPD may cause people to gamble without thinking about the possible
outcomes.23 They might spend their rent money or get pay day loans.
This can lead to debt.
Top
10. Information for carers, friends and relatives
As a carer, friend or family member of someone living with borderline
personality disorder (BPD), you might find that you need support.
It can be useful to learn about the disorder as much as possible. This may
help you to:
support the person who has BPD,
understand why they may act in certain ways, and perhaps take
things less personally, and
become more aware of what situations make them more distressed.
There are books available that may help. These include:
Stop Walking on Eggshells by Mason & Kreger, and
I Hate You, Dont Leave Me by Kreisman & Straus
It is important to get support if are struggling to cope. See if there is a
local support group which you can join. You could ask social services for
a carers assessment to see if they can help.
You can find more about:
Supporting someone with a mental illness
Carer Assessment and Support Planning
at www.rethink.org. Or call 0121 522 7007 and ask for the information to
be sent to you.
Top
8

BPD World
Committed to raising awareness and reducing the stigma of mental health
with a focus on borderline personality disorder. It provides online
information, advice and support and has an online forum.
Website: www.bpdworld.org

Emergence
Supports people living with personality disorder and carers, friends and
relatives.
Website: www.emergenceplus.org.uk

Self Injury Support

Offers a helpline service for women of any age who self-harm, as well as
text and email services for women under 24.
Self-injury helpline: 0808 800 8088 (Tue Wed 7-10pm, Thu 3-6pm)
Text: 0780 047 2908
Address (office only): Self injury Support, PO Box 3240, Bristol BS2 2EF
Email: www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk/tessform/
Website: www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk/

Turning Point
Works with people who have problems with drug and alcohol use, mental
health and learning disabilities.
Telephone: 020 7481 7600
Address: Standon House, 21 Mansell Street, London, E1 8AA
Email: info@turning-point.co.uk
Web: www.turning-point.co.uk
1

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Borderline

Personality Disorder. The NICE Guideline on Treatment and Management.
Clinical Guidance 78. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists; 2009,
Page 20
2

World Health Organisation. The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and

Behavioural Disorders Clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines
F60.3. http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/en/bluebook.pdf [Accessed
May 2015]
3

NHS Choices. Borderline Personality Disorder.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/borderline-personalitydisorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx [Accessed May 2015]
4

As note 1, at pgs 84-85.

9

As note 2. Also see note 1, at pg 18.

As note 2.

As note 2, F60.

Chanen, A. and McCutcheon, L. Prevention and early intervention for

borderline personality disorder: current status and recent evidence. British
Journal of Psychiatry. 2002, s24-29
9

As note 1, at pgs 21-22

10

McMain SF. et al. Dialectical behavior therapy compared with general

psychiatric management for borderline personality disorder: clinical
outcomes and functioning over a 2-year follow-up. American Journal of
Psychiatry. 2012 Jun;169(6):650-61
11

Verheul, R. et al. Dialectical behaviour therapy for women with

borderline personality disorder. British Journal of Psychiatry 2003;182(2):
135-140.
12

Dimeff, L.A. & Linehan, M.M. Dialectical Behavior Therapy for

Substance Abusers. Addiction Science and Clinical Practice 2008; 4(2):
39-47.
13

Mental Health Foundation. Mindfulness. www.mentalhealth.org.uk/helpinformation/mental-health-a-z/M/mindfulness/ [Accessed May 2015]

14

As note 1, at pg 384.

15

As note 1, at pgs 298, 302, 384.

16

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Borderline

Personality Disorder. Treatment and Management. Clinical Guidance 78.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; 2009, at pg 8.
17

As note 19, at pg 18.

18

As note 19, at pg 15.

19

National Institute for Mental Health for England. Personality Disorder No Longer a Diagnosis of Exclusion. London: Department of Health; 2003.
20

Collated from:

Get Self Help. Distress Tolerance.

http://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/distresstolerance.htm (accessed 20 May
2015);
Centre for Clinical Interventions. Facing your Feelings.
http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=54
(accessed 20 May 2015); and
Elliot and Smith. Borderline Personality Disorder for Dummies.
Indianapolis: Wiley Publishing; 2009.
21

As note 1, at pg 20.

22

NHS Choices. Borderline Personality Disorder symptoms.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Borderline-personalitydisorder/Pages/Symptoms.aspx [Accessed June 2015]
23

See note 27
10

 Rethink Mental Illness 2015

Last updated
June 2015
Next update
June 2017
Version 3

This factsheet is available

in large print.
Last updated 01/10/2010