Crownview Psychiatric Institute specializes in treating adults who have borderline personality disorder and other complex mental illnesses.

Our team understands the unique challenges that these disorders pose, and we have developed a dynamic program to help clients make sustained progress toward improved quality of life:

  • We offer a broad scope of evidence-based therapies and adjunct support services to help clients learn how to manage their symptoms and exert more effective control over their thoughts and behaviors.
  • The educational component of our programming helps clients develop essential life and work skills, which improves their ability function independently, within their families, and as productive members of their communities.
  • An experienced case manager oversees each client’s care. This dedicated professional ensures that we are meeting the full scope of the client’s needs and preparing them to make a successful re-entry into the community.

What Is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health concern. This condition is characterized by impulsivity and instability. People who have bipolar disorder typically have a poor sense of self and a distorted view of others, especially in the context of their relationships.

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) categorizes BPD as a Cluster B personality disorder. There are three other disorders in Cluster B:

  • Antisocial personality disorder
  • Histrionic personality disorder
  • Narcissistic personality disorder

Experts estimate that BPD affects about 1.6% of the population. However, among people who are receiving or have received inpatient psychiatric care, the prevalence of borderline personality disorder rises to about 20%.

Signs & Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder

The following signs may indicate that a person has borderline personality disorder:

  • They have a history of intense but brief relationships. At the start of a relationship, they almost immediately become enamored with the other person. They may quickly become intimate. Then, almost as quickly, they lose interest, claiming that the person is not worth their time and attention.
  • They have an intense fear of being abandoned, and they take drastic steps to prevent this from occurring, even when there is no credible likelihood that it will happen. They may become irrationally angry when someone cancels a date or changes plans. Their reaction may include self-harm and threats of suicide.
  • Their self-image or sense of who they are as a person shifts rapidly and dramatically. As a result, they may suddenly change their sexual identity, their personal values, and their long-term career plans. They may leave one peer group and immediately attempt to join another.
  • They act impulsively in ways that may expose them to significant harm. This can include wild spending sprees, gambling with extremely large sums of money, having unsafe sex, driving erratically, or engaging in periods of binge eating.
  • They undergo drastic mood changes. This may include sudden outbursts of anger, panic, and paranoia. It may also result in frequent physical altercations.
  • They have periods of dissociation. During these episodes, they may feel as though they have become separated from their body and detached from their surroundings. This can result in feeling as though they are watching themselves from afar and are at risk of drifting away.
  • They frequently think about and discuss harming themselves or ending their own live. The rate of attempted and completed suicides is much higher among people with borderline personality disorder than it is among the general public.

These symptoms can clearly have a profound negative impact on a person’s ability to live a healthy, productive, and satisfying life. The longer a person goes without effective treatment, the greater their risk becomes for long-term harm.

Potential Effects of Untreated Borderline Personality Disorder

Failing to get effective treatment for borderline personality disorder can lead to outcomes such as the following:

  • Inability to complete their education, find a job, and keep it
  • Lack of meaningful friendships
  • Medical problems due to impulsive behaviors and/or poor self-care
  • Legal problems related to uncontrolled anger and violent outbursts
  • Financial devastation
  • Reliance on others for basic necessities of life
  • Substance use as a form of self-medication
  • Development or worsening of co-occurring mental health concerns
  • Social ostracization
  • Self-harm
  • Suicide

The complexities of borderline personality disorder make it a challenging concern to treat. But when a person gets the type and level of care that aligns with their specific needs, they can achieve better health and improved quality of life.

How Crownview Can Help: Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder

At Crownview Psychiatric Institute, a client’s personalized treatment for borderline personality disorder may include medication, therapy, adjunct services, education, and wraparound support.

Medication

There is currently no approved medication to treat BPD. However, many people who have this disorder also struggle with anxiety, depression, or another co-occurring mental health concern. All of our clients meet with a psychiatrist. If this professional determines that prescription medication is appropriate, we will include that in the client’s treatment plan.

We closely monitor our client’s use of and reaction to prescription medications, and we can make any adjustments as necessary throughout the individual’s time with us.

Therapy

Our therapeutic approach is guided by the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders. The skilled professionals who provide care at Crownview may employ a variety of therapies to help our clients achieve goals such as the following:

  • Symptom relief
  • More effective control of their thoughts and actions
  • Improved mindfulness, distress tolerance, and cognitive flexibility
  • Reduction of self-defeating thought patterns and other vulnerabilities
  • Greater self-awareness

Adjunct Services

We may supplement the therapeutic component of a client’s treatment for borderline personality disorder with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy and other adjunct services.

Prior to providing any adjunct services, we explain their features and benefits to the client, check for insurance authorization and (when appropriate) discuss the matter with the client’s loved ones.

Education

Adults with borderline personality disorder often struggle with fundamental self-care and other basic life skills. They may also have a less-than-successful employment history. The educational aspect of treatment at Crownview Psychiatric Institute includes a dynamic array of sessions focused on life skills and work skills development.

Wraparound Support

Each adult who receives treatment for borderline personality disorder at Crownview is paired with a case manager. In addition to coordinating their care and communicating with their family, the case manager can also help the client with tasks such as applying for benefits, connecting with community-based support services, and navigating the local public transportation system.

Community & Connection

Crownview Psychiatric Institute serves as a supportive community for adults who have often struggled to find a place where they truly fit in.

We understand how the symptoms of borderline personality disorder can undermine a person’s ability to form healthy relationships and make meaningful contributions to their community. At Crownview, as our clients learn to manage the symptoms of BPD, they also develop essential skills to improve their social functioning.

Every person arrives at Crownview with a unique set of needs and capabilities. We are committed to meeting every individual exactly where they are today, then providing the guidance and care they need to achieve the greatest possible increase in quality of life. This includes preparing them for a successful re-entry into the community and empowering them to live as independently as they are able.

Every step of the way, our clients are in a safe place where they are welcomed, valued, and celebrated.

Learn More Today

If borderline personality disorder has prevented someone you care about from living the life they deserve, Crownview Psychiatric Institute may have the solutions you have been seeking. To learn how we can help your loved one, please contact us at your earliest convenience.