Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified: An Essential Guide to Understanding and Living with BPD

According to Friedel, six million Americans suffer from the psychiatric disorder known as borderline personality disorder--and many of these people often go undiagnosed and live in the lonely fear that they simply lack willpower or self-confidence. Friedel, a distinguished clinical professor of psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University, steps in to explain this little-known and much-misunderstood disorder, and he offers not only information but hope--many people believe BPD isn't treatable, but Friedel says that there are effective treatments available. BPD, like many other psychiatric disorders, results from chemical imbalances in the brain, Friedel says. The emotional instability, impulsive behavior and impaired reasoning that often characterize BPD can thus be controlled with therapy and medication, though Friedel also stresses the importance of the patient's taking responsibility for following through on treatment. For readers who suspect that they or someone they love suffers from BPD, this guide is a good place to start learning how to find help.