Borderline personality disorder symptoms are confusing, frustrating, and hard for loved ones to understand.
This is particularly the case for parents or caregivers dealing with teens who haveborderline personality disorder(BPD).
At a Glance
Parents often have questions about borderline personality in adolescents.
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Keep reading to learn more about how BPD in teens, including the symptoms, prevalence, and treatments.
What Is Borderline Personality Disorder?
Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental health condition.
It is characterized by instability in relationships, moods, self-image, and behaviors.
While the provision technically allows forthe diagnosis of BPDin children under 13, this is very rare.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
For example, engaging in substance use is not necessarily a sign that a person has BPD.
According to a review published in 2015, theremissionrate for adolescents could range from 50% to 65%.
Some studies suggest that the prevalence among teens is around 3%.
Prevalence rates are higher in psychiatric populations.
Research has found that 11% of adolescents receiving treatment in outpatient clinics have BPD.
This number climbs to 78% of teens admitted to the ER for suicidal behavior or attempts.
In fact, many of the environmental risk factors for BPD occur during childhood.
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The presence of depression in adolescence appears to predict BPD during adulthood.
Getting an accurate diagnosis and the use of appropriate treatments is important.
DBT has also been adapted for use specifically with adolescents.
Dialectical-behavioral therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) involves individual psychotherapy and family skills training.
Fortunately, more and moretherapistsare being trained to treat teens with borderline personality.
With treatment, remission and relief from symptoms is possible.
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Biskin RS.The lifetime course of borderline personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry.
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American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th edition.
American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
5th ed, text revision.
Washington, D.C.; 2022.
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