Month: April 2021

Categories
Personality Disorder

Treatment Options for Teens With Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD)

Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) is one of ten personality disorders currently recognized by the DSM-V. The characteristics of PPD center around mistrust and paranoia permeating one’s thoughts and behaviors. Teens struggling with PPD are extremely suspicious of others, often lash out, struggle to interact with others in a healthy way, and misinterpret random or innocent events, words, and gestures as somehow malicious and personal.

How do you treat someone who is fearful of everything around them, constantly worries about being manipulated, and suspects that there is a plot against them hiding behind every corner? Very carefully. Most of the treatment options for teens with paranoid personality disorder center around psychotherapy and rely on the quality of the relationship between the teen patient and their psychotherapist.

Experience with the condition and how best to treat it is an important premium in these cases, as therapists must gain their patient’s trust for any therapy to be effective. Insisting that each therapeutic session is a collaborative effort is a good first step. PPD patients are very unlikely to cooperate if they somehow perceive that therapy is something being done to them, rather than with them. It can take multiple attempts to find the right therapeutic fit for a patient, and establish the kind of long-term relationship needed when treating PPD.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Paranoid Personality Disorder

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often the first choice of talk therapy in the treatment of different disorders, ranging from major depression to general anxiety, alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and personality disorders. As a concept, cognitive behavioral therapy espouses the idea that we can learn to recognize disordered thinking, and address both our thoughts and behavior through a structured therapeutic process. This concept has even proven to be as effective or more effective than pharmacological means in the treatment of some mental health issues.

On a practical level, CBT is a heavily researched and studied therapeutic method that can be adapted to help patients form protocols and alternative coping methods to deal with unhelpful ways of thinking and behaving. A therapist takes time to work through these patterns with the patient to try and better understand why they occur, where they come from, how they are triggered, and what steps the patient might take to address them. This can include learning to re-evaluate negative thinking patterns in the light of reality, better understanding one’s own motivations, and developing problem solving skills to work through stressful situations without returning to a maladaptive method.

Cognitive behavioral therapy can play a central role in the treatment of paranoid personality disorder by helping a teen reflect on their thoughts and behaviors considering inalienable facts, understand and gain insight into the context behind how their actions have affected others, and learn to better control their own impulses and mood changes. CBT often also involves using breathing exercises to calm down when faced with anxious feelings or stressful situations. These therapeutic methods are meant to arm teens with the means to become their own therapists, in due time. A lot of CBT exercises are also treated as homework, to be repeated often outside of the therapy room.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Paranoid Personality Disorder

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can be considered an offshoot of CBT but is more often considered its own type of talk therapy. It has its origins in the treatment of personality disorders, particularly borderline personality disorder, which some doctors felt was not adequately treated via the guidelines and concepts of CBT. It centers on self-destructive behavior. DBT incorporates a new idea into CBT based on dialectics. Dialectics are a philosophical concept that originates from truth-seeking discourse (dialogue, dialektikḗ in Greek) between individuals with different points of view.

The main characteristic behind DBT is a focus on the conciliation of opposite views, and the acceptance of these conflicts. Imagine, for example, loving someone very dearly, and being proud of them for working hard, but feeling resentment towards them for not being able to spend more time with you and your family. This is a conflicting situation where both thoughts are true and valid, and conciliating the two is a dialectical exercise. What we end up with is not just two separate thoughts, but an interpretation of the truth that takes both sides into account.

In this instance, DBT for paranoid personality disorder would try to tackle the contradictions created by wanting to develop a stronger sense of self-esteem and understanding that one’s thoughts can be deceiving or dangerous. This is especially important for paranoid personality disorder because the thought of changing can be frightening to many teen patients struggling with paranoia. Learning to both validate oneself and understand that there is room for improvement can lead to a more constructive treatment path.

Psychodynamic Therapy for Paranoid Personality Disorder

Psychodynamic therapy is centered on the traditional concepts of psychoanalysis, truncated to be simpler and more effective. It involves working with a patient to gain insight to their daily lives and how their thought patterns affect the decisions they make, considering factors such as belief systems and early life experiences. By sharing this process with the patient, the therapist helps them learn to evaluate and analyze themselves, understand how early-life experiences and beliefs shape their actions, and develop healthier responses.

Why Group Therapy Might Not Be the Best Option

One therapeutic treatment option that is rarely suggested for teens with paranoid personality disorder is group therapy. The one-on-one relationship between the patient and their therapist is central to the treatment of PPD, because of the innate importance of trust. Patients with PPD will be much less likely to open and agree to therapeutic suggestions while in a group with other teens.

What About Medication?

There are no medications specifically targeting PPD. However, some medications are used in the treatment of concurrent mental health issues, particularly anxiety disorders and depression. Antidepressants, for example, may help reduce the severity of symptoms that might be exacerbating a teen’s paranoia. It would not address the root issue but could act as an important supplemental tool along with therapy. Paranoid personality disorder is a complicated and difficult condition to treat. It takes time, commitment, and the right treatment plant.

Categories
ADHD Substance Abuse

ADHD and Substance Abuse: What Parents Need to Know

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is diagnosed in about one in ten adolescents (and fewer young children), yet many cases go unnoticed for years and remain undiagnosed and untreated. It is those cases that are at the most risk of developing substance abuse issues later in life. In many cases, teens with ADHD who began using drugs were not looking to get high – instead, they sought drugs to combat the symptoms of an untreated disorder.

While the treatments for ADHD rely on controlled and addictive substances (amphetamine and methylphenidate), research also shows that teens with ADHD who are treated early and routinely take prescribed ADHD medication are much less likely to struggle with drug use later in life.

For reasons not yet completely understood, there is a strong link between ADHD and drug abuse, with potential factors including genetic proclivity, unrecognized ADHD symptoms, how they respond to self-medication, and the link between drug-seeking behavior and risk-taking novelty-seeking behavior linked to ADHD diagnoses. Either way, ADHD often co-occurs with addiction, and concurrent treatment through a holistic, multimodal approach is often necessary.

The Link Between ADHD and Substance Abuse

Adult alcoholics are five to ten times more likely to have undiagnosed ADHD than the general public. Among adults being treated for addiction, about a quarter have been diagnosed with ADHD. Among teens, some studies note that as many as 40 percent of teens with ADHD start drinking at an early age, versus 22 percent of teens without ADHD. Among young adults, the likelihood of using alcohol evened out – but those with ADHD were more likely to use alcohol excessively.

The two major factors researchers take into consideration are behavior and genetics. Both alcoholism and ADHD can be hereditary, and there is an increased rate of addiction in close relatives of people with an ADHD diagnosis. The impulsive, novelty-seeking behavior associated with ADHD may make some teens more likely to try or overindulge drugs than others. While ADHD medication itself is addictive in large doses, most cases of ADHD-related addiction are not because of the medication.

Instead, teens diagnosed and treated with ADHD meds early were less likely to struggle with drug use later. However, that does not mean these drugs are not dangerous for teens without ADHD symptoms. It seems amphetamines and methylphenidate work differently in the brains of teens with ADHD and those without. In other words, addiction to alcohol and other drugs is linked to ADHD, not to ADHD medication.

Recognizing ADHD in Teens

ADHD is a condition with multiple subtypes, and a correct diagnosis can only be achieved through mental healthcare professional. But knowing what to look for in yourself or a loved one can help you make the important decision of seeking a professional diagnosis. Common signs of ADHD in teens include:

    • Trouble finishing tasks.
    • Mood swings and emotionality.
    • Difficulties with executive functions.
    • Lack of focus, chronic distractibility.
    • Poor decision making, impulsiveness.
    • Hyperactivity, often presented through fidgeting movements.
    • May have one or more hobbies where they excel – everything else feels impossible to concentrate on.

ADHD is not just easily excitable, somewhat hyperactive, or scatterbrained. Children and teens with ADHD are often all over the place, cannot sit still, are easily consumed by boredom (even when everyone else is engaged), and are incredibly prone to risk-taking and dangerous, self-destructive behavior. Their executive dysfunction has often advanced to the point that it leads to chaos in their daily lives, including:

    • At school
    • At home
    • With friends
    • In relationships
    • And more

Teens with ADHD develop slower than their peers when it comes to time management and metacognition, and many undiagnosed cases of ADHD are unfairly labeled as lazy or just plain difficult.

Treating ADHD and Substance Abuse in Teens

Drug addiction with a concurrent mental health issue is often known as a dual diagnosis. Treating the dual diagnosis of ADHD and substance abuse requires a holistic approach because the two conditions are heavily entwined. There are neurological and psychological considerations during both heavy use and total withdrawal and their effect on the efficacy of a targeted treatment plan. Comprehensive dual diagnosis treatment often takes on the form of an inpatient or outpatient program with:

    • Multiple talk therapy methods to address and modify destructive thoughts and habits.
    • Skill-building to help identify and improve upon alternative coping mechanisms.
    • A consistent medication plan.
    • Group therapy to help patients become part of a larger support network and benefit from shared experiences.
    • The incorporation of friends and family as crucial elements in on-going, long-term treatment, long after the end of the initial treatment period.

ADHD is a condition that requires a combination of behavior-modifying therapy and medication. Teens with ADHD often cannot just learn to overcome their nature – they are inherently struggling with an atypical brain structure. Their addiction is often the result of numerous attempts to cope with these abnormalities and the problems they bring to the table during day-to-day activities. Addressing both concurrently means providing ample treatment for ADHD while arming the patient with the means to recognize, address, and avoid signs of recurring drug abuse.

Long-Term Treatment and Consistent Support

In some cases, the most important skill is knowing when to call for help and recognizing – and embracing – the importance of support networks when self-motivation is not enough. Coping with ADHD itself can be difficult – coping with addiction on top of that is even harder. The journey towards a fully functional and healthy life is a long one for many teens, and it cannot be walked alone.

The role of a friend or family member is not the same as that of a therapist or doctor, but it remains crucial, especially in the long-term. These conditions are not treated over the course of several weeks but instead require consistent effort over the years and a commitment towards alternative coping mechanisms and the lessons of therapy. It is also a loved one’s job to recognize when family support is not enough and when it is important to seek professional help once again.

Categories
Personality Disorder

How to Deal With a Narcissistic Teenager

Self-obsession is a natural trait in children. Toddlers are in a stage of personal development where they must learn to attend to (and defend) their own needs and identify sources of danger to their own well-being. As preteens and teens go through adolescence, they begin to develop independence, taking the time to define their sense of self.

While empathic traits are also a normal part of being human – regardless of age – it is still normal for kids to generally put themselves first, feel jealous of others, and even seem egotistical. Narcissism becomes a dangerous trait in teens when they are self-centered and wholly incapable of showing interest or compassion for others.

The Roots of a Narcissistic Teenager

Narcissistic personality disorder, or narcissism as a psychiatric diagnosis, is not typically diagnosed in children under 18. This crucially includes most teens, as some signs of natural behavior may be misinterpreted as narcissistic behavior. There are still a few key differences between being self-centered and true diagnosed narcissism, or NPD.

A psychiatrist or doctor may refuse to diagnose your child unless they exhibit clear signs of disordered behavior, such as severe problems with interpersonal relationships, clear lack of empathy, signs of grandiosity across situations and settings, and explosive (dangerous) jealousy. In general, teens start to develop out of their self-centered mindset around ages 15 and 16.

Personal development is highly individual, so it is difficult to put an exact number on it. As your teen approaches the final stages of teenage life, they will likely change in behavior to show that they are beginning to grasp that the world does not revolve around them, that they have certain responsibilities to others. There is more to life than impressing others. But that does not mean these things happen overnight.

Parenting styles, experiences, and even advertising play a role in how your teen thinks of themselves, and the world. Your teen might not be a diagnosed narcissist, but their self-centered thinking may still be an undesirable or grating character trait that could be addressed through less drastic measures than full-on therapy. Consider speaking with a professional about how your parenting philosophy might influence a child to develop narcissistic tendencies, such as:

    • Exclusively tying consequences and punishments to possessions (causing your child to place too much value in material wealth).
    • Your teen’s media consumption or attitude towards advertising (advertisers and social network companies collaborate to instill superficial positivity into their customers, incentivize online engagement, and sell more).
    • Your family’s attitude towards the importance of charity, volunteering, and empathic community endeavors.

Narcissism vs. Narcissist Personality Disorder

After the Greek myth of the young man who accidentally drowned himself, narcissism is defined by self-obsession, enamored with his reflection in the water. Yet, a crucial and defining part of that myth (and definition) is the inability of the narcissist to love or care for anyone else.

Teens who put themselves first may be entitled or self-centered, but not necessarily narcissistic. A narcissistic teenager struggles to function as a partner, is impacted by their negative behavior at work or school, and is disruptive. About 6 percent of people above the age of 18 are diagnosed with a narcissistic personality disorder.

Signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)

Signs of narcissistic personality disorder include:

    • Inflated sense of superiority.
    • Exaggerating achievements and accomplishments.
    • Remorselessly manipulative behavior.
    • Lack of ability to empathize with others/cannot understand the needs of others.
    • Arrogant and haughty behavior.
    • Chases after status symbols.
    • Typically leans towards valuing cerebral superiority (believing themselves as omnipotent, incomparably brilliant) or somatic superiority (focused on looks and status, allure, sex appeal, and body).
    • Depression and anxiety issues.

Some risk factors associated with developing narcissistic personality disorder later in adulthood can include:

    • Learning how to manipulate others.
    • Sudden loss during childhood.
    • Severe emotional abuse.
    • An excessively critical or over-indulging environment.
    • Lack of consistent parenting/caregiving (had to fend for themselves part of the time or most of the time).

Building Empathy With Your Teen

Self-absorbed teens may be helped through a targeted parenting approach. By working to address each of the behavioral flaws your teen is exhibiting, you might be able to help them achieve a different outlook and tap into their inner sense of empathy and compassion.

Do not expect a child to mature into an adult over the course of a few weeks but know that being needlessly and constantly self-absorbed is not necessarily healthy or normal behavior either. You could try building empathy with your teen by bringing the topic up whenever it becomes relevant.

When your teen is angry that something did not work out in their favor, such as a friend canceling dinner plans due to a sudden family emergency, ask them to consider what their friend might be going through at that moment and the fear and sorrow they might be feeling. Encourage your teen to consider acting on their emotions by consoling their friend.

When something tragic happens in the news, ask your teen what they think it would be like to be in such a horrible situation. Or when they act in their self-interest while going against their word with a friend or betraying someone’s trust, compel them to take a moment to reflect on their actions and consider whether they feel guilty.

These exercises aren’t about teaching a teen to share or apologize in an earnest tone – they’re about getting them to take other people into account, take a look at the bigger picture, and grow.

Helping Your Narcissistic Teenager

A narcissistic teenager is a little more difficult to treat. A psychologist will interview and review your teen’s symptoms and behavior, run tests to rule out other potential causes, and prescribe a treatment plan. In general, true narcissists will not accept treatment and would not volunteer to be labeled as needing help. You cannot convince them that something is wrong.

However, they may be convinced to consider talk therapy and change their behavior to better fit in with others and reduce the challenges of interpersonal relationships. This can help a professional slowly get to the root of the patient’s behavioral issues and thought patterns, often ironically centered around insecurity and low self-esteem, and deep-seated self-resentment.

Teens diagnosed with NPD need friends and family to help support them by highlighting their therapy goals and reminding them that it is a long-term step-by-step journey. It takes time to learn to develop one’s empathy in cases of NPD and separate oneself from the problematic thought patterns that feed narcissism.

Categories
Substance Abuse

Inhalants, Huffing, and Commonly Abused Household Products

An estimated 750,000 people use inhalants for the first time every year, and more than 22 million Americans ages 12 and up have gotten high off inhalant products. The prevalence is enough that inhalant abuse was once dubbed “the forgotten epidemic.” Inhalants refer to a vast number of substances and products, far too many to list. Common examples include:

    • Glue
    • Toluene
    • Gasoline
    • Shoe polish
    • Lighter fluid
    • Spray paints
    • Cleaning products

And alongside chemicals commonly abused for their psychoactive effects, such as nitrite vasodilators (medication for heart disease) and nitrous oxide (laughing gas). In general, anything that produces intoxicating (and usually dangerous) fumes can be misused for a high, often to the severe detriment of the user’s health and safety. Despite their prevalence and massive long-term health risks, inhalant abuse is not particularly well-covered nor researched. But it remains a significant risk to teens not aware of the dangers of what might seem like a harmless high.

How Are Inhalants Abused?

Inhalants are chemicals that produce intoxicating vapors, usually poured on a rag or inhaled directly from the product’s packaging. These chemicals become gaseous through volatilization or are stored in a compressed liquid form and sprayed. Drugs that must be heated or burned first are not generally considered inhalants.

Because the highs are short-lived, inhalant abuse is often recognized through repeated and frequent inhalant use, despite short-term and long-term physical and mental health consequences. They are cheap and easy to procure, available at nearly any hardware store or dollar store, or even sold online. This has made them the drug of choice for young teens who do not have the means to take other drugs, and they are ubiquitous among homeless children.

Why Are These Household Products Addictive?

Most inhalants are not illegal or strictly dangerous when used properly – but their inhalation causes short-term intoxication, which can be addictive. Alongside an alcohol-like drunken state, inhalants can induce hallucinations, euphoria, and sleep. The active societal dangers of long-term inhalant abuse remain generally unknown to us, as many inhalant use deaths are attributed to strokes or heart attacks. Inhalant use has also caused death by an automobile accident and pneumonia, frostbite in the throat, and brain damage through lack of oxygen.

Commonly Abused Inhalants and Chemicals

The list of products that can be abused as inhalants is too long to compile here, but inhalants can generally be broken down into four distinct and recognizable categories.

Solvents

Solvents are volatile chemicals that vaporize at room temperature. Solvents commonly used as an addictive drug include:

    • Glue
    • Gasoline
    • Lighter fluid
    • Felt-tip markers
    • Dry-cleaning fluids
    • Nail polish removers
    • Correction fluid (white ink)
    • Electronic contact cleaners
    • Paint thinners and removers

Gases

Gases include inhalants that are already stored in a gaseous form or are compressed then sprayed in a gaseous form. Misused inhalant gases include:

    • Butane
    • Propane
    • Anesthetic gases (chloroform, ether)

Aerosols

Aerosol cans can be used as inhalants for their nitrous oxide or the contents of the can (spray paint). Products commonly misused as aerosol inhalants include:

    • Hair spray
    • Spray paints
    • Whipped cream
    • Deodorant sprays
    • Vegetable oil spray
    • Air freshener sprays
    • Aerosol cleaning products

Nitrites

Mostly alkyl nitrites, especially amyl nitrite, methyl nitrite, and ethyl nitrite. These are usually sold as “poppers” or disguised as cleaning products, can be prescribed under niche uses such as an antidote to cyanide poisoning. Names for some nitrite inhalants include:

These products may or may not contain amyl nitrite and other nitrites. Tape head cleaners, for example, may instead contain acetone or rubbing alcohol. Nitrites are especially dangerous because they can limit the availability of oxygen to the brain, causing hypoxia.

The Dangers of Inhalant Abuse

The long-term effects of inhalant abuse can include:

    • Lung failure
    • Liver damage
    • Brain damage
    • Loss of hearing
    • Kidney damage
    • Internal frostbite
    • Bone marrow disease
    • Delusion-induced injuries
    • Developmental problems (in children and teens)
    • Nerve damage (and associated loss of control and coordination)

Because certain inhalants are powerful intoxicants, these substances are also associated with risk-heavy behavior, including unsafe sex and life-endangering activities. Some first-time users can also react fatally to an inhalant because these chemicals are often very concentrated and not at all meant for human consumption, whether through inhalation or otherwise. This is known as sudden sniffing death.

Inhalant Abuse and Dependence Among Adolescents

While we know that a significant number of young teens are using inhalants, more than any other age group, there is little data on how addictive they are. But there are reports of withdrawal symptoms and other signs of physical addiction among teens abusing inhalants, with symptoms following disuse including:

    • Mood shifts
    • Sleeplessness
    • Loss of appetite
    • Nausea and dizziness

Inhalant use is dangerous at any level, from first-time use to long-term use. These substances can cause major lasting damage to the central and peripheral nervous system and vital organs in the body. They are especially dangerous for the developing bodies of children and teens.

How Teen Inhalant Abuse Is Treated

Teen inhalant abuse treatment often involves therapy. A psychiatric professional will be able to work with your teen to address the psychological impact of inhalant abuse, discuss healthier coping mechanisms for cravings, as well as new and existing stressors, and suggest more intensive treatments if necessary, including (but not limited to):

    • Family therapy
    • Day school options
    • Rehabilitative activities
    • Residential treatment programs
    • Resources for building a local support system

Despite not being a typical drug, inhalants can and do cause addiction and can elicit cravings. Part of this is psychological, but depending on the substance, it can also be a form of physical dependence and addiction. For those largely drawn to inhalants to escape their situation mentally, inhalants serve as a powerful albeit maladapted coping mechanism and finding an alternative can be difficult.

For many teens with a history of inhalant abuse, treatment may be about developing skills to deal with stressors and learning to recognize and avoid potential relapses. If you or someone you know is struggling with inhalant abuse, do not hesitate to seek help today.

Categories
Personality Disorder

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder in Teenagers

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one of ten recognized and categorized personality disorders in the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V), characterized largely by instability in two major aspects of life: self-image and interpersonal relationships. Other common characteristics include impulsivity, maladaptive or inappropriate behavior in different personal and social situations, and chronic feelings of emptiness.

While borderline personality disorder is a recognized and treatable condition in adults, its exact diagnostic criteria – specifically whether it can or should be diagnosed in children – remained up to debate for years. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 11th Revision (ICD-11) and DSM-V provide clear outlines for defining these conditions. There are various ways to diagnose and treat them.

However, some experts continue to argue that teens should generally not be diagnosed with BPD at all. In contrast, others find that there are cases where it is useful to identify and begin early treatment of BPD, especially if that treatment can help the teen learn to adjust and improve their long-term behavior. Either way, research suggests that teens exhibit symptoms of BDP differently from adults. Understanding how and why borderline personality disorder in adolescents develops can help parents provide better care and support.

A Primer on Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are misunderstood and contentious. Rather than stigmatizing individual differences and temperaments, these disorders serve to identify rigid or inflexible maladaptive patterns in behavior and thinking, leading to self-destructive and hurtful behavior.

These disorders disrupt patients’ lives and those around them, sometimes to a disastrous degree, and can be affected through targeted therapies and treatments. Personality disorders are diagnosed when a person’s thoughts and behaviors actively cause problems at home and work. Treating personality disorders can be tricky.

Teens and adults diagnosed with a personality disorder will rarely agree that they need treatment and will often find ways to blame others for their problems. Because paranoia and trust problems often feature so heavily in personality disorders, treatment suggestions may be intrusive or offensive to some.

Personality disorders often co-occur alongside other mental health problems, most notably substance use. This can further complicate treatment and require more intensive residential care. While there are ten recognized personality disorders in the international psychiatric community, these are usually categorized into three major clusters:

    1. Eccentric disorders (Cluster A)
    2. Dramatic disorders (Cluster B)
    3. Anxious disorders (Cluster C)

Borderline personality disorder is characterized as a dramatic disorder.

Borderline Personality Disorder in Teenagers vs. Adults

One of the greatest challenges behind accurately diagnosing a personality disorder in teens is that instability and a flexible self-image are common in adolescent mental development. This makes it harder to separate problematic or disordered behavior and thinking from what might be considered a normal part of growing up. Statistics also indicate that teens are more likely to have a personality disorder than adults, meaning that some do grow out of it without professional intervention.

Other considerations include the fact that teens are likely to shift in and out of meeting the diagnostic criteria for borderline personality disorder and often display subclinical symptoms (i.e., not severe enough to require treatment), escalate, and then fall back down. Worries around pathologizing normal developmental behavior and avoiding stigmatizing the patient can also affect how and when a teen is treated. To that end, the DSM states that adolescents can and should be diagnosed with BPD, provided specific criteria are met.

These include pervasive and unusual maladaptive behavior, lasting at least a year and unlikely to be tied to the teen’s emotional or mental development. This generally means that the criteria for diagnosing BPD in teens are stricter than in adults, as psychiatrists must go through great lengths to ensure that a teen’s actions and thoughts are consistently disruptive over a period of at least a year.

Providing early treatment in the form of talk therapy, developing a support system, and healthy coping mechanisms can drastically help teens reduce the effects of their diagnosis, as the disorder is addressed at the onset. This can also help reduce reliance on medication in the long-term and may improve outcomes.

Identifying Borderline Personality Disorder in Teenagers

The symptoms of borderline personality disorder can be different for teens than adults. In general, borderline personality disorder can include symptoms such as:

    • Self-loathing.
    • Feelings of emptiness.
    • Mood swings and lashing out.
    • Self-harm or signs of depression.
    • Self-destructive and risk-taking behavior.
    • Struggling to manage and control emotions.
    • Misinterpreting social cues (often exaggerating their meaning).
    • Severe interpersonal trouble (arguments and rifts caused by emotional turmoil).

Individuals with BPD are often characterized by feeling intensely confused by their emotions and thoughts and lash out or seek validation to soothe their pain. This can feel manipulative and deliberately damaging towards others. Still, it is important to understand that these issues arise from constant inner turmoil and a lack of healthy emotional regulation skills.

How Are Personality Disorders Diagnosed?

Like any mental health disorder, a professional diagnosis is critical before beginning treatment. A qualified psychiatrist will discuss a teen’s thoughts and behaviors to gauge their emotions and responses and utilize various tests to rule out potential physical causes and alternate explanations for different symptoms.

A better understanding of a teen’s family life and family/medical history is also crucial for the diagnostic process. Certain areas of a teen’s life are specifically investigated for signs and symptoms of a borderline personality disorder, including:

    • Their own self-image.
    • Their relationships with others.
    • Impulse control and risk-taking.
    • Their grasp and awareness of self and reality.
    • Their ability to regulate thoughts and emotions.

Treating Teenagers With Borderline Personality Disorder

Treatment for teen borderline personality disorder involves rigorous and repeated talk therapy to identify and address maladaptive coping mechanisms, thoughts, and behaviors. Central to many BPD cases is a warped sense of self and trouble with emotions and co-occurring disorders such as depression and substance use disorder.

An individualized treatment approach utilizing different talk therapies and emotional regulation training can help teens address their problems closer to the disorder’s onset before they become much harder to treat. Individualized treatment can also help address multiple disorders concurrently, including a dual diagnosis, through residential or outpatient programs.

If you or your loved one struggles with BPD symptoms, do not hesitate to seek professional help. An early diagnosis can drastically improve quality of life in the long-term.

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