What's in a name? Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder and its links with other disorders.

Professor Jayashri Kulkarni
Director of Monash Alfred
Psychiatry research centre

“People are not as scared of something when they begin to understand it.”

by Matt Jane

A team of Monash University researchers and clinicians are at the forefront of taking important steps to understanding and treating a frequently misdiagnosed mental illness.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is thought to severely affect 6% of the population and a further 20% of people sitting on the trauma spectrum who do not present to hospital. Due to the lack of understanding of the disorder, many individuals are often misdiagnosed and therefore do not receive adequate treatment. Unfortunately, like so many other mental illnesses, BDP can be an extremely stigmatizing diagnosis. The name ‘Border Personality Disorder’ often carries negative connotations and can cause harm to those who suffer from it.

Participants sought for 'Borderline Personality Disorder' research study

Participants sought for 'Borderline Personality Disorder' therapy trial

BPD poses a major public health impact, and this highlights the urgent need for a new treatment approach.

5.9% of Australians have BPD during their lifetime – equivalent to 236,000 Melbournians, and 6,370 City of Stonnington residents, at any one time. Within our local Alfred Health catchment area, approximately 4,000 people already seek care for BPD. Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre (MAPrc), which is a part of the Alfred hospital, receives 3-4 new referrals for patients with BPD to their specialist clinic each week.

Affecting both men and women, BPD develops in adolescence and can result in severe consequences. A history of complex trauma is common, and BPD sufferers tend experience intense emotions and mood swings. Not being able to manage these emotions often results in issues in their relationships with others. As seen in Emma’s case, other features of the disorder include chronic self-harm and suicidal behaviours, cognitive disturbances, intense anger, and chronic feelings of emptiness. It can also include poor self-esteem, fear of abandonment, and transient stress-induced psychosis. Untreated, 10% of these people with BPD will complete suicide.

Participants sought: A novel drug for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Women and men who are 18-65 years old, have been diagnosed with BPD, and are stabilised on current therapy (if on any) for at least 3 weeks, are invited to take part in an 8-week study that is underway in Melbourne. BPD is a prevalent and complex mental illness. Medications currently used for BPD have only modest and inconsistent effects. We are testing a novel medication, which we know from previous research to be safe and well-tolerated, for its efficacy in improving BPD symptoms.