+ BPD: General Infor +

[Guest guest]

Hi KOs,

Below is the info I send out of BPD Central where I help Randi with the

incoming email.

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1 - WHAT IS BPD?

Mental disorders are classified in the DSM-IV, the 4th edition of The

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the Am Psychiatric Assn (ie, the

psychiatrist's 'bible'). For those who would like to examine the DSM-IV,

an online version is located at (then scroll down to Personality Disorders):

http://www.psychologynet.org/dsm.html

Things to keep in mind:

* EVERYONE has all the BPD traits to a certain extent. Especially

teenagers. For one to be diagnosed with BPD, the traits must be

long-standing (lasting years) and persistent. And they must be INTENSE.

* Be very careful about diagnosing yourself or others. In fact, don't do

it. Top researchers guide patients through several days of testing

before they make a diagnosis. Don't make your own diagnosis on the basis

of a WWW site or a book!

* Many people who have BPD also have other concerns, such as depression,

eating disorders, substance abuse--even multiple personality disorder or

attention deficit disorder. It can be difficult to isolate what is BPD

and what might be something else. Again, you need to talk to a

*qualified* professional familiar with treating BPD.

~The DSM Definition of BPD:

A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships,

self-image, and affects (moods), and marked impulsivity beginning by

early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by

five (or more) of the following:

1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Note: Do not

include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in (5).

2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships

characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and

devaluation. This is called " splitting. "

3. Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image

or sense of self.

4. Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging

(e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating,

shoplifting). Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior

covered in (5).

5. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or

self-mutilating behavior.

6. Affective instability (rapid mood changes) due to a marked

reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or

anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few

days).

7. Chronic feelings of emptiness.

8. Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g.,

frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).

9. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative

symptoms. Dissociation is the state in which, on some level or another,

one becomes somewhat removed from " reality, " whether this be

daydreaming, performing actions without being fully connected to their

performance ( " running on automatic " ), or other, more disconnected

actions. It is the opposite of " association " and involves the lack of

association, usually of one's identity, with the rest of the world.

There is no " pure " BPD; it coexists with other illnesses. These are the

most common that BPD may coexist with:

Post traumatic stress disorder

Mood disorders

Panic/anxiety disorders

Substance abuse: 54% of BPs also have a problem

with substance abuse

Gender identity disorder

Attention deficit disorder

Eating disorders

Dissociative disorder (formerly multiple personality disorder)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

>>

Edith here.

Also, a site I found to be very useful, because of my mother's BPD/NPD

combo, was Sam Vaknin's site on Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).

Sam Vaknin is a self-proclaimed malignant narcissist who has written

extensively about NPD. NPDs use others as a source of " N-Supply " (ie,

Narcissistic Supply). For those who would like more info about NPD, go

to (then scroll way way down):

http://www.geocities.com/vaksam/faq1.html

And, Sam Vaknin's NPD archives excerpts are at (then scroll down):

http://www.geocities.com/vaksam/archive01.html

And, I've included, below, the URL of Sam Vaknin's FAQ #82 titled " BPD,

NPD and other Cluster B PDs " . In this FAQ, Sam Vaknin deals briefly with

the affinity between NPD and BPD (blurred differential diagnoses,

co-morbidity, etc).

http://samvak.tripod.com/faq82.html

Cheers,

- Edith

Moderator/Facilitator - WelcomeToOz Family of NonBP Lists

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