Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a serious and chronic mental illness, characterized by instability in mood, behaviors, and interpersonal relationships, leading to difficulties in many areas of life (educational/work, emotional, relational, and family). People affected by this disorder tend to show:
- Difficulties in regulating their emotions and thoughts.
- Impulsive and reckless behaviors, which may include self-harm and suicide attempts, along with difficulties in maintaining stable, goal-directed behaviors.
- They establish unstable relationships with others.
The first symptoms may appear during adolescence (a key stage in personality development) or in early adulthood. Diagnosis is complex because it often occurs in combination with other mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, attention deficit disorders, or substance addiction.
It is estimated to affect between 1% and 2% of the general population and may account for up to 10% of psychiatric diagnoses.
Although it is considered a serious mental disorder, it can be effectively treated with specific therapies, achieving satisfactory results and enabling affected individuals to lead more stable lives. Today, there are different therapeutic approaches, and active research continues to develop new treatments that can further support recovery from these conditions.
