Aggression in Borderline Personality Disorder

Abstract

This review examined aggressive behavior in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and its management in adults. Aggression against self or against others is a core component of BPD. Impulsiveness is a clinical hallmark (as well as a DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criterion) of BPD, and aggressive acts by BPD patients are largely of the impulsive type. BPD has high comorbidity rates with substance use disorders, Bipolar Disorder, and Antisocial Personality Disorder; these conditions further elevate the risk for violence. Treatment of BDP includes psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, schema therapy, dialectic behavioral, group and pharmacological interventions. Recent studies indicate that many medications, particularly atypical antipsychotics and anticonvulsants, may reduce impulsivity, affective lability as well as irritability and aggressive behavior. But there is still a lack of large, double blind, placebo controlled studies in this area.

Significance of borderline personality-spectrum symptoms among adolescents with bipolar disorder

“…Along with increased rates of CD and ODD in our sample, high BPSS were positively associated with assault of others and homicidal ideation. Similar findings have been documented in BPD studies, with reports of higher rates of BPD in prison populations, often for perpetration of violent offenses (Latalova and Prasko, 2010;Sansone and Sansone, 2009). BPD has also been associated with self-injury and suicidality (Dulit et al, 1994;Gross et al, 2002), with approximately 10% of BPD patients completing suicide (Paris, 2002).…”

Aggression in Psychoses

“…This is consistent with the fact that impulsive aggression is a core component of borderline personality disorder [166].…”

Two to Tango: A Dyadic Analysis of Links Between Borderline Personality Traits and Intimate Partner Violence

“…Grant et al (2008) report in their study that the lifetime prevalence of BPD is 5.9%, with similar rates among men (5.6%) and women (6.2%). BPD traits are frequently associated with significant functional impairment (Ansell, Sanislow, McGlashan, & Grilo, 2007;Leichsenring, Leibing, Kruse, New, & Leweke, 2011), and one of the most commonly seen impairments is the uncontrolled use of aggression (Látalová & Praško, 2010). The link between BPD and IPV has been well established in the literature.…”