What is borderline personality disorder?

Borderline personality disorder is marked by a pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts.

How do members experience borderline personality disorder?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with borderline personality disorder*

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Stress
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Listen to Music Reading Individual Therapy
Common symptom
Increased or worsened depression
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Sertraline Bupropion Cariprazine
Common symptom
Feelings of emptiness
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Writing Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine Distraction
Common symptom
Fear of abandonment
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Individual Therapy
Common symptom
Guilt or self blame
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Individual Therapy Writing Addiction Treatment Center

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for borderline personality disorder*

Treatment
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
795
Tried for
borderline personality disorder (8)
Treatment

(Lamictal)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
887
Tried for
borderline personality disorder (7)
Treatment

(Abilify)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
600
Tried for
borderline personality disorder (5)
Treatment

(Zoloft)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
944
Tried for
borderline personality disorder (3)
Treatment

(Topamax)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
382
Tried for
borderline personality disorder (2)

*Data from patients with borderline personality disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with borderline personality disorder*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
for borderline personality disorder (3 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
3
Tried for
borderline personality disorder (8)
Treatment

(Lamictal)
Perceived effectiveness
for borderline personality disorder (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
borderline personality disorder (7)
Treatment

(Abilify)
Perceived effectiveness
for borderline personality disorder (3 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
3
Tried for
borderline personality disorder (5)
Treatment

(Zoloft)
Perceived effectiveness
for borderline personality disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
borderline personality disorder (3)
Treatment

(Topamax)
Perceived effectiveness
for borderline personality disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
headaches
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
borderline personality disorder (2)

*Data from patients with borderline personality disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has borderline personality disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 57
20s 440
30s 1,059
40s 1,075
50s 831
60s 385
70+ 65

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 357
Female 3,490