BPD brain scans.

Scans show what makes a brain 'borderline' - Futurity

Given the similarities between BPD and many other disorders (especially c-ptsd)
is a brain scan perhaps the only way to truly diagnose BPD? (Trauma vs genetic)

Do you think that with more reliable research on the genetic component it would lessen the stigma?

I think I prefer the genetic approach. It makes me feel slightly less like it's my fault for not adjusting properly.

That's a very interesting article.

Yeah that definitely explains why we have so much emotional dysregulation.

Sometimes I think that small percentage of people with BPD who have no identifiable trauma are rather under represented.

I try to fight stigma by pointing out the trauma usually suffered by people with BPD but wouldn't having roots in brain make up be a better defense?

There is nothing we can do about the design of our brains.

I also feel that this would probably be a good case for changing the name to emotional dysregulation disorder.

It's our brains not our personalities.

I've read this study information before and find it fascinating and definitely a good reason to push for BPD being renamed, Emotional Dysregulation Disorder and to be re-classified as an Axis 1 disorder. I find the bias against individuals with BPD (an Axis 2) significant, especially by insurance companies because they believe that it is part of a person's personality and therefore pretty much entrenched and resistant to treatment. Yet all the resent studies have shown that people with BPD do get better with treatment and support. They learn to watch for the signs of emotional dysregulation and to tone down the stress in their lives--things that seriously effect their brain.

How is this brain disorder any different than Schizophrenia or Bipolar--two disorders that are caused by a brain dysfunction? Psychiatrists and psychologists tend to be more open to treating individuals with schizophrenia and Bipolar. I agree that both these disorders seem to respond better to medications than BPD, but I think that's because research in the area of psychotropic medication and BPD hasn't yielded any significant results yet. It's not like people with BPD can reach in and change the structure of their brains!

Fascinating stuff ! Thanks for bringing this up. I'd learned about the amygdala and pre-frontal cortex in a BPD documentary on YouTube, called "Back from the edge".

I wouldn't count on the stigma ever being lessened by anything, to be honest. Ignorance will prevail; hence, so will stigma. Even if the research did show genetic predisposition, people's minds are made up.

About "fault", I respectfully disagree. Even if your parents didn't pass the gene on to you, there will still ALWAYS be someone else who is at least partially responsible for your illness ... there has to be, because we need evil nons to breed BPD. Their invalidation in our early years seals our fate.

In my case, though my mom passed on her gift to me (I'm certain she has BPD), I also blame the kids who bullied the s*** out of me when I was just a little child. They pulverized any possible shred of self-esteem in me.

Regardless of whether your parents passed something on to you or not, an illness is an illness, and should be treated as such. No one makes a conscious choice to get sick.

There was nothing you could do to prevent abuse as a child either.

http://forums.psychcentral.com/survi...%3B-crime.html

Oh dear, please don't think that "It's your fault". We are not to blame, no matter what the reason, for being the way we are. Nature &/or nurture doesn't matter. Neither are our fault. I think that I want to try to love myself no matter why I am the way I am. Fix what I can for sure, but don't take on that great heap of blame.