Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder

Some mental health disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, are difficult to diagnose. There are quite a few factors that need to be taken into consideration. The first step if you think you are suffering from a mental health disorder is to visit your doctor or general health practitioner. You will need to complete an evaluation and questionnaire.

Your medical history also needs to be considered and a medical exam administered so as to rule out other problems that might be causing your symptoms. You will need to discuss what your signs and symptoms are with your doctor. So, there is quite an involved process before a diagnosis can actually be made.

In most cases, a borderline personality disorder is diagnosed in adults, as symptoms that may appear to be related to the disorder may improve as a child or teenager gets older. What causes mental health disorders can sometimes be uncertain, as is the case with a borderline personality disorder.

Certain causes may be considered:

• Genetics
• Neurological issues
• Environmental
• Certain social elements
• Trauma or negative life events
• Has or does a family member also suffer from the same or similar condition.

Most likely during a psychological evaluation, the therapist will ask questions such as:

• How severe are the symptoms, are they difficult to manage?
• Does it severely impact everyday life?
• Are you experiencing suicidal thoughts?
• Do you harm yourself or do you have thoughts of harming others?

You may find when it comes to diagnosing Borderline Personality disorder, it may take weeks or longer. To reach a diagnosis you also have to have more than just two characteristics of the disorder. Many of the symptoms also have to be present for long periods of time. If you feel this is something you or a loved one is experiencing, don’t be afraid to approach your local mental health clinic for help.

Depression in adults and children or any mental health disorder is nothing to be ashamed of, getting help can only aid in improving the quality of your life.