More research is needed to determine how and why the factors discussed below are related to 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.
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / Getty Images
These painful experiences can be hidden and even disguised as praise.
Not everyone who has BPD has had these types of childhood experiencesalthough a large number have.
And not everyone who has these types of experiences will have BPD.
There is now some evidence that in addition to the environment,genetic factorsplay a significant role.
Monkeys with the gene variation who were raised by nurturing mothers were much less likely to develop BPD-like symptoms.
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.
Research is in progress and hopefully we will learn more in the coming years.
National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.
2016;55(3):287-304. doi:10.1111/bjc.12100
