Causes of Borderline Personality Disorder

Close

If you or a loved one hasborderline personality disorder (BPD), you may be wondering what caused it or if you are to blame. The development of this disorder is complex, and there are likely a variety of potential causes, so it’s unlikely that one person or thing is at fault.

Environmental Influences

There is strong evidence to support a link between distressing childhood experiences, particularly involving caregivers, and the development of BPD.The types of childhood experiences that may be associated with BPD include:

It is thought that interaction between biological factors and an invalidating childhood environment may work together in predisposing a person to develop BPD. An emotionally invalidating environment is one in which a child’s emotional needs are not met.

Aninvalidating environmentis not always evident to those who have experienced it or to others around them. These painful experiences can be hidden and even disguised as praise.

Not everyone who has BPD has had these types of childhood experiences—although a large number have. And not everyone who has these types of experiences will have BPD. It is likely that a combination of factors, rather than a single cause, is responsible for most cases of borderline personality disorder.

Genetics

While early studies showed thatBPD does tend to run in families, for some time, it was not known whether this was because of environmental influences or because of genetics. There is now some evidence that in addition to the environment,genetic factorsplay a significant role.

In particular, studies have shown that a variation in a gene that controls the way the brain usesserotonin(a natural chemical in the brain) may be related to BPD.It appears that people who have this specific genetic variation may be more likely to develop BPD if they also experience difficult childhood events (for example, separation from supportive caregivers).

Biological Factors

Several studies have shown that people with BPD have differences in both the structure of their brain and brain function. BPD has been associated with excessive activity in parts of the brain that control the experience and expression of emotion.

For example, people with BPD have more activation of the limbic system, an area of the brain that controls fear, anger, and aggression, than people without BPD. This difference may be related to the emotional instability symptoms of BPD. Newer studies have also found associations between the hormone oxytocin and the development of BPD.

A Word From Verywell

There is much to be learned about the causes of BPD, and it’s likely that it is a combination of factors rather than any one specific finding which can lead to the disorder. Research is in progress and hopefully we will learn more in the coming years.

Understanding the potential causes may help prevent the onset of the disorder, especially in those who have a genetic or biological predisposition to it. As it is, an invalidating environment is harmful to a child whether or not it raises the likelihood of BPD in the future.

What Is Emotional Validation?

7 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.Cattane N, Rossi R, Lanfredi M, Cattaneo A.Borderline personality disorder and childhood trauma: exploring the affected biological systems and mechanisms.BMC Psychiatry. 2017;17(1):221. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1383-2Reeves M, James L, Pizzarello S, Taylor J.Support for Linehan’s biosocial theory from a nonclinical sample.Journal of Personality Disorders. 2010;24(3):312-26. doi:10.1521/pedi.2010.24.3.312Maurex L, Zaboli G, Ohman A, Asberg M, Leopardi R.The serotonin transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and affective symptoms among women diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.Eur Psychiatry. 2010;25(1):19-25. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2009.05.001Bennett AJ, Lesch KP, Heils A, et al.Early experience and serotonin transporter gene variation interact to influence primate CNS function.Mol Psychiatry. 2002;7(1):118-22. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4000949Ruocco AC, Carcone D.A neurobiological model of borderline personality disorder: Systematic and integrative review.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2016;24(5):311-29. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000123Brüne M.On the role of oxytocin in borderline personality disorder.Br J Clin Psychol. 2016;55(3):287-304. doi:10.1111/bjc.12100

7 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.Cattane N, Rossi R, Lanfredi M, Cattaneo A.Borderline personality disorder and childhood trauma: exploring the affected biological systems and mechanisms.BMC Psychiatry. 2017;17(1):221. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1383-2Reeves M, James L, Pizzarello S, Taylor J.Support for Linehan’s biosocial theory from a nonclinical sample.Journal of Personality Disorders. 2010;24(3):312-26. doi:10.1521/pedi.2010.24.3.312Maurex L, Zaboli G, Ohman A, Asberg M, Leopardi R.The serotonin transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and affective symptoms among women diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.Eur Psychiatry. 2010;25(1):19-25. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2009.05.001Bennett AJ, Lesch KP, Heils A, et al.Early experience and serotonin transporter gene variation interact to influence primate CNS function.Mol Psychiatry. 2002;7(1):118-22. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4000949Ruocco AC, Carcone D.A neurobiological model of borderline personality disorder: Systematic and integrative review.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2016;24(5):311-29. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000123Brüne M.On the role of oxytocin in borderline personality disorder.Br J Clin Psychol. 2016;55(3):287-304. doi:10.1111/bjc.12100

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.Cattane N, Rossi R, Lanfredi M, Cattaneo A.Borderline personality disorder and childhood trauma: exploring the affected biological systems and mechanisms.BMC Psychiatry. 2017;17(1):221. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1383-2Reeves M, James L, Pizzarello S, Taylor J.Support for Linehan’s biosocial theory from a nonclinical sample.Journal of Personality Disorders. 2010;24(3):312-26. doi:10.1521/pedi.2010.24.3.312Maurex L, Zaboli G, Ohman A, Asberg M, Leopardi R.The serotonin transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and affective symptoms among women diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.Eur Psychiatry. 2010;25(1):19-25. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2009.05.001Bennett AJ, Lesch KP, Heils A, et al.Early experience and serotonin transporter gene variation interact to influence primate CNS function.Mol Psychiatry. 2002;7(1):118-22. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4000949Ruocco AC, Carcone D.A neurobiological model of borderline personality disorder: Systematic and integrative review.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2016;24(5):311-29. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000123Brüne M.On the role of oxytocin in borderline personality disorder.Br J Clin Psychol. 2016;55(3):287-304. doi:10.1111/bjc.12100

National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.

Cattane N, Rossi R, Lanfredi M, Cattaneo A.Borderline personality disorder and childhood trauma: exploring the affected biological systems and mechanisms.BMC Psychiatry. 2017;17(1):221. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1383-2

Reeves M, James L, Pizzarello S, Taylor J.Support for Linehan’s biosocial theory from a nonclinical sample.Journal of Personality Disorders. 2010;24(3):312-26. doi:10.1521/pedi.2010.24.3.312

Maurex L, Zaboli G, Ohman A, Asberg M, Leopardi R.The serotonin transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and affective symptoms among women diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.Eur Psychiatry. 2010;25(1):19-25. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2009.05.001

Bennett AJ, Lesch KP, Heils A, et al.Early experience and serotonin transporter gene variation interact to influence primate CNS function.Mol Psychiatry. 2002;7(1):118-22. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4000949

Ruocco AC, Carcone D.A neurobiological model of borderline personality disorder: Systematic and integrative review.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2016;24(5):311-29. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000123

Brüne M.On the role of oxytocin in borderline personality disorder.Br J Clin Psychol. 2016;55(3):287-304. doi:10.1111/bjc.12100

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?