CHRISTIAN SINGLES
GUIDE TO ONLINE DATING ADVICE
Treatment
Treatments for BPD have improved in recent years. Group
and individual psychotherapy are at least partially
effective for many patients. Within the past 15 years, a
new psychosocial treatment termed dialectical behavior
therapy (DBT) was developed specifically to treat BPD, and
this technique has looked promising in treatment studies.6
Pharmacological treatments are often prescribed based on
specific target symptoms shown by the individual patient.
Antidepressant drugs and mood stabilizers may be helpful
for depressed and/or labile mood. Antipsychotic drugs may
also be used when there are distortions in thinking.7
Recent Research Findings
Although the cause of BPD is unknown, both
environmental and genetic factors are thought to play a
role in predisposing patients to BPD symptoms and traits.
Studies show that many, but not all individuals with BPD
report a history of abuse, neglect, or separation as young
children.8
Forty to 71 percent of BPD patients report having been
sexually abused, usually by a non-caregiver.9
Researchers believe that BPD results from a combination of
individual vulnerability to environmental stress, neglect
or abuse as young children, and a series of events that
trigger the onset of the disorder as young adults. Adults
with BPD are also considerably more likely to be the
victim of violence, including rape and other crimes. This
may result from both harmful environments as well as
impulsivity and poor judgement in choosing partners and
lifestyles.
