;t think she fit in anywhere. “I saw myself, quite correctly, as unfit for the educational and social systems (Kaysen, 1993, 154).” All of these feelings led her to more than “emptiness and boredom.” She sums this whole idea up beautifully in one statement: “Emptiness and boredom: what an understatement. What I felt was complete desolation. Desolation, despair, and depression (Kaysen, 1993, 157).” No wonder she was suffering!Borderline Personality Disorder’s most significant causal factors lie in the biological and psychosocial categories. All personality disorders show increasing evidence of genetic contribution. Patients with borderline also show differences in the levels of many neurotransmitters. For example, lower functioning in certain neurotransmitters such as seratonin can lead to the impulsive-aggressive behaviors that are common to so many borderline patients. Deficits in the levels of dopamine may predispose the person to psychotic symptoms. Also, trouble with the regulation of noradrenergic neurotransmitters can be found in borderline patients, which is also observed in those with chronic stress conditions. Psychological factors also play a major role in the formation of borderline personality disorder. Around ninety percent of borderline patients report a history in child abuse. Emotional, verbal, physical and sexual abuses were also reported and each contributed to a fifty five percent occurrence of emotional withdrawal among the patients. It is clear that abuse and neglect during childhood is severely damaging.People with personality disorders are extremely difficult to treat. Because of their trouble forming interpersonal relationships, they have difficulties establishing a therapeutic relationship with a therapist. Treatment is generally effective if the psychological and biological treatment models are used in conjunction with eachother. This type of treatment often involves ...
