Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. [Not including suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5]

A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation

Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self

Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., promiscuous sex, eating disodorders, binge eating,  substance abuse, reckless driving). [Again, not including suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5]

Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, threats, or self-multilating behavior such as cutting, interfering with the healing of scars, or picking at oneself.

Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria  irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).

Chronic feelings of emptiness, worthlessness.

Inappropriate anger, or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).

Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation, delusions, or severe dissociative symptoms

Unfortunately, Borderline Personality Disorder has been stigmatized within the healthcare community and the general public. There are many erroneous beliefs about those with BPD including that they are "manipulative," attention-seeking and other pejorative terms. I have not found these assumptions to be true and have very much enjoyed working with the BPD population. For those interested in more information on this topic, my doctoral dissertation addresses this issue (can email a copy) as does Linehan2 (p.16-18)

 

1   Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR (Text Revision). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. 2004.

2  Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder by Marsha M. Linehan. 1993