borderline personality

[sarah]

Can a person outgrow Borderline Personality Disorder?

[HFHS M.D.-SW]

Dear Sarah,

Borderline Personality Disorder is a long-standing pattern of instability of mood, interpersonal relationships, and poor self-image.
Psychotherapy has been considered the treatment of choice in
borderline personality disorder, and medication is used to control symptoms such as anger, hostility, brief psychotic episodes, depressed mood and anxiety.
Prognosis depends on the severity of the disorder, impact of previous treatment strategies and the patient's compliance with treatment.
With time some patient's symptoms improve.

Sincerely,

HFHS M.D.-SW

*Keywords: Borderline Personality Disorder

[Josie]

I am not an expert...but in doing some research on the disorder I have found that the likelyhood of completely "growing out"  of BPD is slim to none.  Most professionals will probably tell you that some psychiatric assistance is needed.  It has been written that one's condition may fade out given the involvement in a healthy, consistent and fufilling relationship (a corrective relationship)...but will it completely go away without the help of a professional?  No.  And those who find themselves living a somewhat stable and healthier life (without the help of a profesional) are most definitely in the minority.  But as I stated primarily, I am not expert...just doing extensive research on the subject.  John W. Gunderson, M.D. is one of my sources, he is regarded as a leading authority on BPD, and is the director of Psychotherapy and psychosocial research at McLean Hospital in Mass. and a professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Med. School.

[regina]

I do not know much about the disorder clinically; I have only lived with people who have had the disorder.  It is my (purely lay) opinion that environment, coupled with "therapy", ie. education, information and courage, can essentially manage the condition.  Unfortunately, those folks with whom I have experienced behaviors associated with BPD, never identified the source of their problem.