BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
DEFINITIONS
Personality Disorders
Definitions
Personality disorders represent “an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture” per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). These patterns tend to be fixed and consistent across situations and leads to distress or impairment. Additional data on borderline personality disorder is included on this page.
Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental disorder marked by a pattern of instability in moods, behavior, self-image, and functioning. These experiences often result in impulsive actions and unstable relationships. A person with borderline personality disorder may experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that may last from only a few hours to days. Additional information about borderline personality disorder can be found on theNIMH Health Topics page on Borderline Personality Disorder.
Additional information can be found on the NIMH Health Topics page on Borderline Personality Disorder.
Treatment for Personality Disorders in Adults
Based on diagnostic interview data from the NCS-R, Table 2 shows the past year treatment of personality disorders among U.S. adults 18 and older.
Over a third (39.0%) of respondents with any personality disorder and 42.4% of respondents with borderline personality disorder reported receiving mental health treatment at some time in the past 12 months.