Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment for Teens and Young Adults
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition characterized by long-term patterns of unstable emotions, impulsivity, and difficulties in relationships. Individuals with BPD may experience intense and fluctuating emotions, engage in risky behaviors, have unstable self-images, and struggle with interpersonal relationships.
Because BPD mimics other personality disorders and mental health challenges, it is often misdiagnosed. Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder in teens and young adults can be mistaken for depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, bipolar disorder, or PTSD.
Furthermore, the suicide rate among those with BPD is 50 times that of the general population, particularly because younger patients who struggle with BPD often only see the world in black and white. Intensive treatment for borderline personality can help young adults learn to regulate their emotions and cope with the effects of this disorder.
Signs and Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder
Here are some of the most common symptoms of BPD in young people:
- Seeing things in extremes—as black and white, good or bad
- Lacking a stable sense of identity and self-image
- Difficulty reading others’ emotions
- Intense fear of abandonment, whether real or imagined, and efforts to avoid it
- Extreme impulsivity, often leading to risky behaviors such as substance abuse, unsafe sex, binge eating, and dangerous driving
- Having a hard time trusting others
- Constantly shifting moods
- Inability to maintain healthy relationships
- Volatile, uncontrollable bursts of anger
- Feelings of emptiness, boredom, and ennui
- Irritable, anxious, or depressed moods that can last for a few hours or for several days
- Self-harming behaviors, including suicidal thoughts, threats of suicide, or suicide attempts
- Dissociative episodes—disconnecting from one’s sense of self and experiencing a feeling of unreality
What Causes BPD?
Researchers have identified three primary areas that appear to contribute to borderline personality disorder:
Genetics
BPD runs in families. In fact, Borderline Personality Disorder is five times more common among those who have a relative with BPD. However, scientists have not yet identified a specific BPD gene.
Brain Function
Studies show that people with BPD have abnormalities in the part of the brain that regulates emotions, makes decisions, and controls impulses. Some research suggests that as many as 60 percent of BPD diagnoses stem from damage in these areas of the brain.
Environmental Factors
People with BPD often have a history of childhood trauma, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, extreme stress, neglect, and/or abandonment. In one study, 44 percent of people with BPD had experienced childhood sexual abuse.
How Is BPD Diagnosed?
Until recently, mental health professionals typically did not diagnosis BPD in teenagers, even though symptoms usually start in adolescence. However, experts now recommend early diagnosis and treatment of borderline personality, as early intervention leads to better outcomes.
No single definitive test exists for determining whether a teen or young adult has borderline personality disorder, and the symptoms of BPD are often confused with normal adolescent behavior. Consequently, a BPD assessment may involve:
- Interviews with family members and friends
- A comprehensive interview with the patient
- Discussion with their previous clinicians
- A review of the patient’s psychological history and any previous medical evaluations
Take a Quiz
If you’re experiencing symptoms that might be BPD, or observing signs in a loved one, take our quiz and get recommendations and next steps.
Our BPD Treatment for Youth and Young Adults
Effective BPD treatment at Newport Institute addresses borderline personality in teens and young adults using a multi-pronged approach.
Our whole-person care helps teens and young adults with BPD develop self-understanding and healthy coping mechanisms, and find the inner strength they need to create a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Each client has a tailored care plan that addresses multiple aspects of their emotional regulation and daily functioning.
A whole-person approach to healing
What Our BPD Treatment Includes
Psychiatric and Clinical Care
- Psychiatric care and medication management
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help teens and young adults identify the emotions that leave them feeling alone and isolated, and reframe their patterns of thinking to move away from self-defeating thoughts
- DBT-Informed Skills to provide young people with specific skills for enhancing self-awareness and emotion regulation. Research shows that this is one of the most effective approaches for treating BPD.
- Attachment-Based Family Therapy to rebuild disrupted family relationships
- Mentalization to help people with BPD recognize their emotions as separate from their behaviors and actions
Experiential
Modalities
- Mindfulness and meditation to help balance the nervous system, including yoga and reflection exercises
- Creative art therapies, including music therapy and art therapy, to enhance self-expression and process trauma underlying depression
- Adventure therapy to empower young people to handle challenges and master new skills
- Community service, as doing good for others is proven to increase life satisfaction and well-being
Academic, Career, and Life Skills Support
- Accredited academic component for teens, and assistance with college applications and admission
- Support with career planning, resume building, and planning next steps
- Life skills training, including daily skills for independent living
- Executive functioning support, to enhance emotional regulation, organization skills, and self-awareness
Are you or a loved one experiencing symptoms that might be BPD?
Get in touch today to schedule a complimentary call with one of our admissions experts and explore next steps.
Our Team of Experts
Newport Healthcare’s team of industry experts provides results-driven BPD treatment, delivered with compassion and led by personal experience. Many of our clinical professionals at our treatment centers for children, teens, and young adults bring their own stories of recovery and healing to their work.
Our staff includes psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, registered dietitians, teachers, and more. The Newport Healthcare team is passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of young people and their families.
From Our
Chief Clinical Officer
Our staff’s clinical expertise is matched only by their compassion and desire to see lives changed. They offer unconditional love that supports clients’ self-worth and self-acceptance as they do the work of healing.
Barbara
Nosal
,
PhD, LMFT, LADC
Where to Find Our BPD Treatment Centers
Our treatment centers are located across the United States. We treat ages 7–11, 12–18, and 18–35 (depending on location) from all 50 states and abroad, providing a full continuum of care.
Newport’s residential treatment centers offer serene environments, within beautiful natural settings, where young people can find long-term healing from depression and co-occurring issues. Our outpatient programs are located in major metropolitan areas, with easy access for young people and families.
Our programs are located in Northern and Southern California, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington State, Utah, and Wisconsin. More programs are in development in areas where youth and young adult mental health and substance use treatment are most needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition characterized by intense emotional instability, impulsive behaviors, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships. Individuals with BPD often experience rapid mood swings, fear of abandonment, and a distorted self-image. Symptoms typically emerge in late adolescence or early adulthood.
BPD is diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional through a comprehensive assessment that includes a clinical interview, evaluation of symptoms, and consideration of the individual’s history. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria are used to determine if a person meets the criteria for BPD.
Treatment for BPD typically includes psychotherapy as the primary approach. Evidence-based therapies such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are commonly used. Medications may also be prescribed to help manage specific symptoms, such as mood swings or anxiety.
Yes, with appropriate treatment and support, many young people with BPD can lead fulfilling and productive lives. Recovery is a process that often involves learning coping strategies, improving emotional regulation, and developing healthier relationships. Early intervention and consistent treatment can significantly improve outcomes for individuals with BPD.
