Borderline Personality Disorder: What is the pathology that Amber Heard would suffer from

Borderline Personality Disorder. According to forensic psychologist Shannon Curry, involved in the legal battle between the former Depp spouses, Amber Heard could suffer from this very pathology.

But say what is it about in particular? And what are the symptoms of borderline disorder? With the scientific advice of Dr. Gianluigi Mansi, psychiatrist of Humanitas Psico Medical Care we have tried to answer some questions.

What is borderline personality disorder?

The borderline personality disorder (DBP) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is characterized by “a pervasive modality of instability and hypersensitivity in interpersonal relationships, instability in self-image, extreme fluctuations in mood and impulsiveness “. Elements that can contribute to severe suffering as well as lead to problematic behaviors.

At the origin of the term, which dates back to the 1930s, the attempt to define a group of patients who they seemed to be on the border, borderline precisely, between psychosis and neurosis. Even today, sometimes, appear close to the normbeing then able to suddenly highlight serious psychopathological elements.

It is also a disturbing disorder more often women and which can arise in early adulthood, although often theorigin can be traced to stressful events experienced during early childhood. Physical and sexual abuse in early adolescence, but also episodes of parental abandonment or separation have often been associated with borderline personality disorder, although it should be noted that it is It is possible to develop this type of disorder even in the absence of trauma or particularly negative events suffered in childhood.

How does the disorder manifest itself?

Borderline Personality Disorder can have several demonstrations. Certainly a common aspect is the terror of being abandoned which can also manifest itself with excessive behaviors such as fear or anger when someone important shows up late for an appointment or cancels a commitment. A characteristic manifestation is in fact also the difficulty controlling one’s anger which can result in intense outbursts, after which one feels guilty or a sense of deep shame.

Not only, the relationship with others is also profoundly unstable: those suffering from borderline disorder, in fact, can change their view of others abruptly, passing from idealizing a personoften their partner, so much so that they want to share every moment together, to complete disillusionment and devaluation when he feels, even unreasonably, neglected.

The same instability can also manifest itself in self-image: often changing goals, opinions or career path can be among the most common symptoms of this type of disorder, which are also accompanied severe mood swings that can occur within a few hours. Finally, feature is also the tendency to self-sabotage – leaving school shortly before graduation or ruining a promising relationship can be typical behaviors – e chronic feelings of emptiness. Common very often too self-harming behaviors which can have a double meaning: on the one hand they can in fact be an expression of the will to punish oneself, on the other they can be used as dysfunctional ways to manage emotions perceived as too intense.