Question
Child abuse: A cause of borderline personality disorder?
Can physical or sexual abuse in childhood cause borderline personality disorder?
Answer
from Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Traumatic events in childhood increase the risk of borderline personality disorder and other mental health problems. Emotional trauma at a time when the brain isn't fully developed may cause changes to the brain and decrease a person's ability to deal with stressful situations later in life.
While the exact cause of borderline personality disorder isn't fully understood, it's most likely caused by a combination of heredity and environmental factors. You're at increased risk of borderline personality disorder if:
* You have a first-degree relative — a parent, sibling or child — who was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
* You were physically or sexually abused or grew up in an environment with fighting and conflict.
Borderline personality disorder is a serious emotional disturbance that's characterized by:
* Unsatisfactory and unstable personal relationships
* Self-esteem that goes up and down
* Intense anger or trouble managing anger
* Impulsive, dangerous or self-harming behavior
* Feelings of emptiness
* Intense fears of abandonment
It's common for borderline personality disorder to occur along with other mental health problems. Childhood abuse also can be associated with other mental illnesses. Examples include:
* Depression
* Post-traumatic stress disorder
* Anxiety disorders
* Substance abuse disorders
* Eating disorders
From MayoClinic
