Borderline personality disorder or BPD affects over 18 million Americans or roughly 6% of the adult population in any given year. It is arguably the most devastating of all psychiatric disorders. At the same time, BPD is one of the most stigmatized, misunderstood, and least talked about psychiatric disorders. For many years it was believed that BPD only affected young women. We now know that both men and women of all ages are affected with BPD. What makes BPD such a devastating disorder is the high rate of self-injury and suicidal behavior. With a “death by suicide” rate of approximately 10% it has the highest mortality rate of any mental health condition. This app will explore all aspects of BPD beginning in the 1930s when it was first introduced by psychologist Adolf Stern. Stern described patients with characteristics that did not fit neatly into existing diagnostic categories, and his work laid the foundation for understanding what would later be recognized as BPD. The American Psychiatric Association classifies BPD not as a mental health condition like bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder but as a personality disorder. A personality disorder can be defined as an enduring and pervasive pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving which deviates markedly from the social norm and causes significant personal distress as well as social and occupational impairment. Personality disorders tend to be treatment resistant. The app will provide in depth information on all aspects of borderline personality disorder including the symptoms, traits, possible causes, complications of the disorder, coping strategies, treatment options, as well as personal stories from those who treat BPD and those who are battling BPD. Most importantly the app will present information in a sensitive and thoughtful manner with an emphasis on coping, healing, recovering, and even "cure."
BPD, Borderline, Explained, Personality disorder, revisited, Cluster B
