Quality of Life among Parents of Borderline Personality Disorder Female Patients

Abstract

orderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability in affect regulation, impulse control, interpersonal relationships and self-image. Clinical signs of the disorder include emotional dysregulation, impulsive aggression, repeated self-injury, and chronic suicidal tendencies, which make these patients frequent users of mental-health resources (Leib et al., 2004). BPD is highly dysfunctional and has direct consequences in workplace, emotional, interpersonal, and family areas. This dysfunctional pattern produces a great burden for BPD patient’s relatives or people living with them. In terms of its impact on daily life, there may be widespread disruption in the routines of family members which needs to be assessed (Giffin., 2008). Given the nature of the disorder and its association with various adverse long-term outcomes for individuals, it is unsurprising carers of adults with BPD report considerable adversity. Qualitative research highlights the experience of chronic and traumatic stress, burden, prolonged hopelessness, a stigmatizing healthcare system, shrinking social networks, and feelings of grief, guilt, and distress experienced by carers of adults with BPD (Seigerman et al., 2020). It is not clear whether parents burden is related to parents characteristics, severity of BPD pathology, or dissatisfaction with treatment. Regarding parents characteristics, aspects such as the relationship to the adolescent and socioeconomic background could be important contributors to feelings of burden. Biological mothers are generally more involved in parental rearing (Jørgensen et al., 2020).