What are the dangers of borderline personality disorder?

What are the dangers of borderline personality disorder?

Rhoda Hahn (Psychiatrist) gives expert video advice on: Who is at risk for borderline personality disorder?; What are the treatments for borderline personality disorder? and more...

I think first and foremost, these patients are prone to making suicide attempts or suicide gestures, and these patients know you could really kill yourself accidently even though that may not have actually been your intention. I've also seen them hurt themselves incredibly badly in a suicide attempt that they've misjudged. One girl, for example jumped out of a second storey window and was paralized from the neck down for the rest of her life afterwards, and that clearly wasn't her intent. I think she had hoped that she would be injured in a rather dramatic fashion but she got a lot more than she bargained for. In a less serious manner though, I think the other dangers involve chaotic, stormy, ungratifying interpersonal relationships with other people. Mostly based on these patients fluctuating moods and presentation as well as their tendency to become incredibly angry. It's difficult for them to have relationships that are meaningful or that last to any degree. They are prone to depression and anxiety disorders as well. There are a lot of what we call co-morbid diagnosis seen in people with borderline personality disorder. Co-morbid refers to other diagnosis for which they meet criteria for. So, it's quite common for these patients to get diagnosed with a variety of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, as well as eating disorders and substance abuse is also very common in these patients.