In this video, Dr Sanil Rege provides an overview of Borderline Personality Disorder.

Borderline personality disorder is a personality disorder with impairments in self and interpersonal functioning with specific pathological personality traits.

In ICD-10 it is labelled as an Emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD). In ICD-11 this has been changed to a borderline pattern qualifier.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health disorder that impacts how you think and feel about yourself and others, causing problems in everyday life. It includes self-image issues, difficulty managing emotions and behaviour, and a pattern of unstable relationships.

Signs and symptoms may include:

1. An intense fear of abandonment, even going to extreme measures to avoid real or imagined separation or rejection
2. A pattern of unstable intense relationships, such as idealising someone one moment and then suddenly believing the person doesn’t care enough or is cruel
3. Rapid changes in self-identity and self-image including shifting goals and values, and seeing yourself as bad or as if you don’t exist at all
4. Periods of stress-related paranoia and loss of contact with reality, lasting from a few minutes to a few hours
5. Impulsive and risky behaviour, such as gambling, reckless driving, unsafe sex, spending sprees, binge eating or drug abuse, or sabotaging success by suddenly quitting a good job or ending a positive relationship
6. Suicidal threats or behaviour or self-injury, often in response to a fear of separation or rejection
7. Wide mood swings lasting from a few hours to a few days, which can include intense happiness, irritability, shame or anxiety
8. Ongoing feelings of emptiness
9. Inappropriate, intense anger, such as frequently losing your temper, being sarcastic or bitter, or having physical fights.