Causes
and Treatment for BPD
Causes
Impaired
brain chemistry (treated with medications). The neurotransmitters
dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine may be
involved.
Early
environmental influences (anything from long-term isolation
for an early infectious disease to severe physical or sexual
abuse).
Triggers
that bring on symptoms (such as divorce or adolescent traumas).
Treatment
When
a person with BPD allows themselves to be treated (denial is often
part of the disorder), treatment generally consists of:
Medications,
which are often successfully used to reduce depression, dampen
emotional ups and downs, and put the brakes on excessive impulsivity.
Antidepressants can help with depression, while mood stabilizers
such as Depakote, Tegretol, or Lithium can help with mood swings.
Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac,
Zoloft, and Paxil may help control impulsivity, as may Effexor,
a related antidepressant. Tegretol may be helpful for controlling
excessive anger and irritability.
Therapy,
especially cognitive-behavioral therapy. The major problems
are finding a qualified therapist and getting the BP into therapy.
Researcher Marsha Linehan’s cognitive-behavioral method of treatment,
called Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), has been shown in
empirical research to help BPD patients experience less anger,
less self-mutilation, and fewer inpatient psychiatric stays
than patients who received other forms of treatment. For more
on DBT. see http://faculty.washington.edu/linehan/
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