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Conference delves into Borderline
Personality Disorder Research and Treatment
Nationally recognized borderline personality disorder experts discussed current research findings and
treatment approaches for this devastating
mental illness at a March 28, 2008, seminar
at Cullen Auditorium, Baylor College of
Medicine.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD), characterized by pervasive
instability in moods, interpersonal
relationships, self-image and behavior,
afflicts approximately 2 percent of the
general population and is a leading cause of
suicide. Eight to 10 percent of individuals
with this disorder take their own lives.
“A common misapprehension by family, friends and often by
clinicians is that patients with borderline
personality disorder are not likely to
commit suicide since suicidal behavior is
seen as a bid for attention, misjudged as
not serious.
“The prevalence is more than 400 times higher than in the general
population,” said John Oldham, MD, MS,
senior vice president and chief of staff,
The Menninger Clinic, and professor of
psychiatry and executive vice chair,
Menninger Department of Psychiatry &
Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of
Medicine.
Despite the prevalence of BPD, its diagnosis by therapists is
often impeded by the lack of awareness and
frequent co-occurrence with other
conditions, such as depression, substance
abuse and anxiety.
To help therapists diagnose this disorder and build an alliance
with their BPD patients, new ways of
categorizing and defining BPD are in
consideration. Dr. Oldham is one of the
consultants on the fifth edition of the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-V), expected to be published
in 2011.
BPD usually manifests itself in late adolescence or early
adulthood, according to Dr. Oldham.
“Patients with borderline personality disorder often have a
stormy course, punctuated with episodes of
high-risk behavior. The patient’s symptom
profile as well as coexisting conditions,
such as substance abuse, influence an
individual’s course.
“Due to the disabling nature of the disorder, accompanied by high
levels of emotional pain and distress,
patients generally seek treatment and if
they adhere to treatment and overcome
high-risk behavior, they may ultimately do
quite well.”
Officially recognized in 1980 by the psychiatric community,
borderline personality disorder is at least
two decades behind in research treatment
options and education compared to other
serious mental illnesses.
Congressional Resolution, H. Res. 1005, is awaiting final action
to designate May as Borderline Personality
Disorder Awareness Month.
This resolution acknowledges the pressing burden of those
afflicted with borderline personality
disorder, confirms the widespread prevalence
of this disorder and seeks to spread
awareness of this under-recognized and often
misunderstood mental illness.
This Menninger Continuing Education Conference, offering
continuing education credit to health
professionals, is co-sponsored by the
National Education Alliance for Borderline
Personality Disorder (NEA-BPD) and The
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Metropolitan Houston. Topics and speakers
included:
Borderline Personality Disorder: Overview of
Recent Research Findings by John M. Oldham,
MD, MS
Mentalizing in the Treatment of BPD by Jon
G. Allen, PhD
Evidence-Based Treatment of BPD by Glen O.
Gabbard, MD
Borderline Personality as a Self-Other
Representational Disturbance by Donna S.
Bender, PhD
New Developments in the Neurobiology of BPD
by Larry J. Siever, MD
Borderline Personality Disorder in DSM-V by
Andrew E. Skodal, MD
The Menninger Clinic is an international specialty psychiatric
center, providing treatment, research and
education. Founded in 1925 in Kansas,
Menninger relocated to Houston in 2003 and
is affiliated with Baylor College of
Medicine and The Methodist Hospital. For 17
consecutive years, Menninger has been named
among the leading psychiatric hospitals in
U.S.News & World Report?s annual
ranking of America?s Best Hospitals.
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