Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTreatment GoalsRemission RatesCo-Occurring ConditionsTreatment ApproachesCoping TipsNext in Borderline Personality Disorder Guide5 Keys to Living With Borderline Personality Disorder
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Table of Contents
Treatment Goals
Remission Rates
Co-Occurring Conditions
Treatment Approaches
Coping Tips
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If you or someone you love has been diagnosed withborderline personality disorder(BPD), your first question may be whether it can be cured. While there is no definitive cure for BPD, treatment can reduce symptom frequency and severity.In fact, with the right treatment approach, you can be well on the road to recovery and remission.
Learn more about your treatment options with borderline personality disorder and how they can help. It’s also beneficial to know what you can expect in terms of recovery and remission, as well as ways to cope with this mental health condition.
BPD Remission vs. RecoveryWhile remission and recovery don’t necessarily constitute a cure, both play a role in the successful treatment of BPD.By definition:Remissionis the stage where you no longer meet thecriteria for a BPD diagnosis.Recoveryis less well-defined but suggests the ability to function in all aspects of life for an extended period, such as holding down a job and maintaining meaningful relationships.
BPD Remission vs. Recovery
While remission and recovery don’t necessarily constitute a cure, both play a role in the successful treatment of BPD.By definition:Remissionis the stage where you no longer meet thecriteria for a BPD diagnosis.Recoveryis less well-defined but suggests the ability to function in all aspects of life for an extended period, such as holding down a job and maintaining meaningful relationships.
While remission and recovery don’t necessarily constitute a cure, both play a role in the successful treatment of BPD.By definition:
Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment Goals
In the past, many believed that BPD was untreatable and lumped it together with other hard-to-treat conditions, likeantisocial personality disorder(ASPD).As scientists have gained greater insights into the disorder, newer treatment approaches have helped many achieve lasting remission from BPD, in some cases without the use of drugs.
Results can differ, with some responding better than others. But for the most part, with informed and individualized treatment, BPD can be controlled in the same way as diabetes or other chronic conditions. The disease may not go away, but it can be managed in a way that affords a better quality of life.
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BPD Remission Rates
Many people notice a natural reduction in theirborderline personality disorder symptomsover time.Some also experience recovery in a functional sense, though this is less consistent from one person to another.
According to a review of 11 studies, between 50% and 70% of people with BPD achieve remission over time. These individuals also hadreduced depressionand improvements in their functional impairment.
Some individual studies suggest that remission rates may be even higher. One such piece of research was published in 2020 and involved 58 people with BPD. Roughly 12 to 18 years after being diagnosed, 81% had symptomatic recession according to the DSM-IV.
What Is the DSM?
Conditions Commonly Co-Occurring With BPD
Many people with BPD have at least one other mental health disorder. Some of the most common include:
People with BPD often meet the criteria for otherpersonality disordersas well.
Studies have found that many people with BPD have three to four co-occurring mental health conditions.These co-occurring conditions, alsoknown as comorbidities, can make treatment more complex and result in delayed or missed diagnoses due to overlapping symptoms.
Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment Approaches
Thetreatment of BPDcan vary based on the severity of a person’s symptoms and whether they have any co-occurring disorders. Although, they typically include psychotherapy and medication.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is the backbone treatment for BPD.Among the various approaches are:
All of these therapies are appropriate for BPD treatment, approaching the disorder in slightly different ways. There is not one that is inherently better than the others. The choice depends largely on the effectiveness of your interactions with your therapist and your openness to the technique.
Never be afraid to ask why the therapist has chosen a specific therapeutic practice. It can help you better understand the aims of the treatment and decide whether it is the right approach for you.
Find Support From These Online Therapy Programs
Medications
BPD medicationsmay be helpful in treating the symptoms common with this condition, especially when used in combination with psychotherapy.While drugs are not always needed, some prescription medication options include:
When a dual diagnosis is made, treatment is often staged so the symptom with the greatest likelihood of success is treated first. For instance, if you also have depression, a common BPD comorbidity, you may be prescribed an antidepressant to reducedepression symptomscommon to both MDD and BPD.
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This episode ofThe Verywell Mind Podcastshares how you can use behavioral activation to reduce your depression. Click below to listen now.
Coping With Borderline Personality Disorder
If you think you have BPD or have been diagnosed with the condition, here are steps you can take to better cope as you explore treatment options.
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14 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.Winsper C.Borderline personality disorder: course and outcomes across the lifespan.Curr Opin Psychol. 2021;37:94-97. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.09.010Paris J.The natural history of personality disorders: Recovery and residual symptoms.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):301-302. doi:10.1177/070674371506000701Biskin RS.The lifetime course of borderline personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):303-308. doi:10.1177/070674371506000702Álvarez-Tomás I, Ruiz J, Guilera G, Bados A.Long-term clinical and functional course of borderline personality disorder: A meta-analysis of prospective studies.Eur Psychiatry. 2019;56(1):75-83. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.10.010Zeitler ML, Bohus M, Kleindienst N, et al.How to assess recovery in borderline personality disorder: Psychosocial functioning and satisfaction with life in a sample of former DBT study patients.J Personal Disord. 2020;34(3):289-307. doi:10.1521/pedi_2018_32_394Leichsenring F, Heim N, Leweke F, Spitzer C, Steinert C, Kernberg OF.Borderline personality disorder: A review.JAMA. 2023;329(8):670-679. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.0589Shen CC, Hu LY, Hu YH.Comorbidity study of borderline personality disorder: applying association rule mining to the Taiwan national health insurance research database.BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2017;17:8. doi:10.1186/s12911-016-0405-1Ng FY, Bourke ME, Grenyer BF.Recovery from borderline personality disorder: A systematic review of the perspectives of consumers, clinicians, family and carers.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(8):e0160515. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0160515Bozzatello P, Rocca P, De Rosa ML, Bellino S.Current and emerging medications for borderline personality disorder: is pharmacotherapy alone enough?Exp Opin Pharmacother. 2020;21(1):47-61. doi:10.1080/14656566.2019.1686482Shoja Shafti S, Kaviani H.A comparative study of olanzapine and aripiprazole for symptom management in female patients with borderline personality disorder.Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni-Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 2015;25(1):38-43. doi:10.5455/bcp.20140923100030Del Casale A, Bonanni L, Bargagna P, et al.Current clinical psychopharmacology in borderline personality disorder.Curr Neuropharmacol. 2021;19(10):1760-1779. doi:10.2174/1570159X19666210610092958Kramer U.The role of coping change in borderline personality disorder: A process-outcome analysis on dialectical-behaviour skills training.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2017;24(2):302-311. doi:10.1002/cpp.2017National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder.Treating BPD.
14 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.Winsper C.Borderline personality disorder: course and outcomes across the lifespan.Curr Opin Psychol. 2021;37:94-97. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.09.010Paris J.The natural history of personality disorders: Recovery and residual symptoms.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):301-302. doi:10.1177/070674371506000701Biskin RS.The lifetime course of borderline personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):303-308. doi:10.1177/070674371506000702Álvarez-Tomás I, Ruiz J, Guilera G, Bados A.Long-term clinical and functional course of borderline personality disorder: A meta-analysis of prospective studies.Eur Psychiatry. 2019;56(1):75-83. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.10.010Zeitler ML, Bohus M, Kleindienst N, et al.How to assess recovery in borderline personality disorder: Psychosocial functioning and satisfaction with life in a sample of former DBT study patients.J Personal Disord. 2020;34(3):289-307. doi:10.1521/pedi_2018_32_394Leichsenring F, Heim N, Leweke F, Spitzer C, Steinert C, Kernberg OF.Borderline personality disorder: A review.JAMA. 2023;329(8):670-679. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.0589Shen CC, Hu LY, Hu YH.Comorbidity study of borderline personality disorder: applying association rule mining to the Taiwan national health insurance research database.BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2017;17:8. doi:10.1186/s12911-016-0405-1Ng FY, Bourke ME, Grenyer BF.Recovery from borderline personality disorder: A systematic review of the perspectives of consumers, clinicians, family and carers.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(8):e0160515. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0160515Bozzatello P, Rocca P, De Rosa ML, Bellino S.Current and emerging medications for borderline personality disorder: is pharmacotherapy alone enough?Exp Opin Pharmacother. 2020;21(1):47-61. doi:10.1080/14656566.2019.1686482Shoja Shafti S, Kaviani H.A comparative study of olanzapine and aripiprazole for symptom management in female patients with borderline personality disorder.Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni-Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 2015;25(1):38-43. doi:10.5455/bcp.20140923100030Del Casale A, Bonanni L, Bargagna P, et al.Current clinical psychopharmacology in borderline personality disorder.Curr Neuropharmacol. 2021;19(10):1760-1779. doi:10.2174/1570159X19666210610092958Kramer U.The role of coping change in borderline personality disorder: A process-outcome analysis on dialectical-behaviour skills training.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2017;24(2):302-311. doi:10.1002/cpp.2017National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder.Treating BPD.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.Winsper C.Borderline personality disorder: course and outcomes across the lifespan.Curr Opin Psychol. 2021;37:94-97. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.09.010Paris J.The natural history of personality disorders: Recovery and residual symptoms.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):301-302. doi:10.1177/070674371506000701Biskin RS.The lifetime course of borderline personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):303-308. doi:10.1177/070674371506000702Álvarez-Tomás I, Ruiz J, Guilera G, Bados A.Long-term clinical and functional course of borderline personality disorder: A meta-analysis of prospective studies.Eur Psychiatry. 2019;56(1):75-83. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.10.010Zeitler ML, Bohus M, Kleindienst N, et al.How to assess recovery in borderline personality disorder: Psychosocial functioning and satisfaction with life in a sample of former DBT study patients.J Personal Disord. 2020;34(3):289-307. doi:10.1521/pedi_2018_32_394Leichsenring F, Heim N, Leweke F, Spitzer C, Steinert C, Kernberg OF.Borderline personality disorder: A review.JAMA. 2023;329(8):670-679. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.0589Shen CC, Hu LY, Hu YH.Comorbidity study of borderline personality disorder: applying association rule mining to the Taiwan national health insurance research database.BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2017;17:8. doi:10.1186/s12911-016-0405-1Ng FY, Bourke ME, Grenyer BF.Recovery from borderline personality disorder: A systematic review of the perspectives of consumers, clinicians, family and carers.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(8):e0160515. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0160515Bozzatello P, Rocca P, De Rosa ML, Bellino S.Current and emerging medications for borderline personality disorder: is pharmacotherapy alone enough?Exp Opin Pharmacother. 2020;21(1):47-61. doi:10.1080/14656566.2019.1686482Shoja Shafti S, Kaviani H.A comparative study of olanzapine and aripiprazole for symptom management in female patients with borderline personality disorder.Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni-Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 2015;25(1):38-43. doi:10.5455/bcp.20140923100030Del Casale A, Bonanni L, Bargagna P, et al.Current clinical psychopharmacology in borderline personality disorder.Curr Neuropharmacol. 2021;19(10):1760-1779. doi:10.2174/1570159X19666210610092958Kramer U.The role of coping change in borderline personality disorder: A process-outcome analysis on dialectical-behaviour skills training.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2017;24(2):302-311. doi:10.1002/cpp.2017National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder.Treating BPD.
National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.
Winsper C.Borderline personality disorder: course and outcomes across the lifespan.Curr Opin Psychol. 2021;37:94-97. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.09.010
Paris J.The natural history of personality disorders: Recovery and residual symptoms.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):301-302. doi:10.1177/070674371506000701
Biskin RS.The lifetime course of borderline personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):303-308. doi:10.1177/070674371506000702
Álvarez-Tomás I, Ruiz J, Guilera G, Bados A.Long-term clinical and functional course of borderline personality disorder: A meta-analysis of prospective studies.Eur Psychiatry. 2019;56(1):75-83. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.10.010
Zeitler ML, Bohus M, Kleindienst N, et al.How to assess recovery in borderline personality disorder: Psychosocial functioning and satisfaction with life in a sample of former DBT study patients.J Personal Disord. 2020;34(3):289-307. doi:10.1521/pedi_2018_32_394
Leichsenring F, Heim N, Leweke F, Spitzer C, Steinert C, Kernberg OF.Borderline personality disorder: A review.JAMA. 2023;329(8):670-679. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.0589
Shen CC, Hu LY, Hu YH.Comorbidity study of borderline personality disorder: applying association rule mining to the Taiwan national health insurance research database.BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2017;17:8. doi:10.1186/s12911-016-0405-1
Ng FY, Bourke ME, Grenyer BF.Recovery from borderline personality disorder: A systematic review of the perspectives of consumers, clinicians, family and carers.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(8):e0160515. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0160515
Bozzatello P, Rocca P, De Rosa ML, Bellino S.Current and emerging medications for borderline personality disorder: is pharmacotherapy alone enough?Exp Opin Pharmacother. 2020;21(1):47-61. doi:10.1080/14656566.2019.1686482
Shoja Shafti S, Kaviani H.A comparative study of olanzapine and aripiprazole for symptom management in female patients with borderline personality disorder.Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni-Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 2015;25(1):38-43. doi:10.5455/bcp.20140923100030
Del Casale A, Bonanni L, Bargagna P, et al.Current clinical psychopharmacology in borderline personality disorder.Curr Neuropharmacol. 2021;19(10):1760-1779. doi:10.2174/1570159X19666210610092958
Kramer U.The role of coping change in borderline personality disorder: A process-outcome analysis on dialectical-behaviour skills training.Clin Psychol Psychother. 2017;24(2):302-311. doi:10.1002/cpp.2017
National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder.Treating BPD.
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