Criteria for Diagnosing Borderline Personality Disorder
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), outlines the criteria for diagnosing Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). BPD is a complex mental health disorder characterized by unstable relationships, emotions, self-image, and impulsive behavior. To receive a diagnosis of BPD, an individual must meet at least five of the following criteria:
Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment: This might include intense fear of abandonment, going to great lengths to avoid it, or rapidly switching between idealizing and devaluing relationships.
Unstable and intense interpersonal relationships: This criterion involves having a pattern of unstable and intense relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation, and difficulties in maintaining a consistent sense of self when in relationships.
Identity disturbance: People with BPD may have a persistently unstable self-image or sense of self. They might feel uncertain about their goals, values, and identity, leading to periods of feeling empty or without a clear sense of who they are.
Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging: This could include impulsive spending, substance abuse, reckless driving, risky sexual behavior, binge eating, or other impulsive behaviors that have negative consequences.
Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior: Individuals with BPD may engage in self-harming behaviors as a way to cope with emotional pain or distress.
Affective instability: This involves rapidly shifting emotions that are disproportionate to the situation. People with BPD may experience intense episodes of anger, sadness, or anxiety that can last for a few hours to a few days.
Chronic feelings of emptiness: Individuals with BPD often describe feeling chronically empty, as if something is missing from their lives.
Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger: People with BPD may have intense outbursts of anger, sometimes leading to physical confrontations or other negative outcomes.
Transient, stress-related paranoid thoughts or severe dissociative symptoms: This might include brief episodes of feeling disconnected from reality, depersonalization, or paranoid thoughts under stress.
It's important to note that a diagnosis of BPD requires a thorough assessment by a mental health professional, as these criteria need to be evaluated in the context of an individual's life and experiences. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms that align with BPD, it's recommended to seek help from a qualified mental health professional for a proper evaluation and potential treatment. Therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) or psychodynamic therapy, is often used to help individuals manage and cope with the symptoms of BPD.
Call or text 988 for the Suicide Prevention Hotline for Immediate Help.
Dr. Dan Davidson DC and Diane Gammon LPC-MHSP, CMHIMP, ASDCS, NCC, M.S.
Diane is a Licensed Professional Counselor - Mental Health Service Provider, National Board Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Certified Integrated Medicine Nutritional Mental Health Professional and Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist
Call, Text (615-556-8406) or Email Diane Gammon to schedule an In-Person or Telehealth Secure (HIPPA Compliant) Video Counseling Session or to ask a question.
Email: Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com
Diane serves all of Tennessee and has an office in Murfreesboro.
Dr. Dan Davidson is a Chiropractor at The Back Resort in Salem Virginia.
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