borderline personality disorder (bpd)

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a personality disorder marked by intense, rapidly shifting emotions, an unstable sense of self, and volatile relationships. In therapy, it is viewed as a pattern shaped by attachment wounds and invalidating environments, sometimes showing a petulant, angry‑defiant tone when a person feels dismissed.

Common features include fear of abandonment, splitting (all‑or‑nothing views), impulsivity or self‑harm, dissociation, and chronic emptiness. Origins often reflect a sensitive temperament combined with early stress, trauma, or invalidation within the broader category of personality disorders.

Therapies such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mentalization‑based therapy, schema therapy, and transference‑focused psychotherapy focus on emotion regulation, a steadier identity, and more stable relationships. In families, a borderline parent may struggle with consistent attunement, which can shape attachment patterns across generations.