Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex mental illness that affects both men and women. Along with intense emotions and feelings, people with BPD can also experience intense anger, known as borderline rage.Hence imperative to understand how violence relates to BPD and how it can be handled.

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Is There a Link Between Borderline
Personality and Violence?
(Personality Disorder 1H)
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2. Is There a Link Between Borderline Personality and
Violence?
 Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex mental illness that affects
both men and women.
 Along with intense emotions and feelings, people with BPD can also
experience intense anger, known as borderline rage.
 Hence imperative to understand how violence relates to BPD and how it can
be handled.
 Prevalence of Violence in People with BPD
 There is research demonstrating that both men and women who have
committed violent acts have elevated rates of borderline personality
disorder compared to the general population.
 However, this does not necessarily mean that a diagnosis is associated with
an increased risk of violence.
 Impulsive behavior, which includes physical aggression, is one of
the diagnostic criteria for BPD, even though someone can meet criteria for the
disorder without demonstrating this symptom.
 There are several reasons why people with BPD are more likely to be violent
in their relationships
 First, people with BPD are often victims of violence themselves, such as
through child abuse.
 While it's not true for all people, many people with BPD may have learned to use
aggression to deal with strong emotions because adults modeled that behavior
for them when they were young.

3. Is There a Link Between Borderline Personality and
Violence?
 Prevalence of Violence in People with BPD….. There
are several reasons …them when they were young.
 In addition, people with BPD often experience an unstable
sense of self and difficulty trusting others in interpersonal
relationships.
 They may experience very strong emotions if they believe
they are being rejected or abandoned; this is known
as rejection sensitivity.
 These intense feelings of rejection can sometimes lead to
aggressive behaviors.
 Finally, people with BPD often have difficulties with
impulsive behaviors.
 When they are experiencing the strong emotions that are
typical of the disorder, they may do things without thinking
about the consequences.
 If they engage in violence, it is usually not planned.

4. Is There a Link Between Borderline Personality and
Violence?
 Will My Loved One Be Violent?
 The information above only provides general information about the link
between borderline personality disorder and violence; it is not possible to
predict whether one particular individual with BPD will be violent.
 If your loved one has not shown any violent tendencies or aggression, it is
quite possible that she won't be violent.
 Many BPD patients never do aggressive acts during their lives.
 On the other hand, if you are feeling threatened, even if no violence has
occurred in your relationship, you should take that seriously.
 If you already feel unsafe, it is very possible the situation could escalate to the
point of violence.
 You should consider getting yourself to a safe place away from that loved one.
 It's important that you are safe before trying to help your friend or family
member get help.
 Once you are secure, your best bet is for both of you to seek professional
help through therapy with a therapist specializing in BPD.
 This may help you figure out whether the relationship can be improved and
may prevent violence from happening in the future.
 Therapy can also help you decide whether this is a relationship worth working
on.
 The therapist can also recommend a course of treatment to help your loved
one get on the path to recovery.

5. Is There a Link Between Borderline Personality and
Violence?
 Sources:
 Stuart GL, Moore TM, Gordon KC, Ramsey SE, Kahler CW. “Psychopathology in
Women Arrested for Domestic Violence.” Journal of Interpersonal
Violence, 21: 376-389, 2006.
 Holtzworth-Munroe A, Stuart GL. “Typologies of Male Batterers: Three Subtypes
and the Differences Among Them.” Psychological Bulletin, 116: 476-
497, 1994.