Episode 27: On the Borderline (Part Two)

Altered Mates — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0800

This episode is a continuation of our discussion on Borderline Personality Disorder, which is a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts. Whereas in Episode 26 — On the Borderline, we concern ourselves with the defining BPD, and getting our heads around the diagnostic criteria in the DSM V, in this episode we discuss treatment and causes of the disorder, as well as considerations around its social construction. It should be remembered that a diagnosis of a personality disorder like “borderline” says a lot about the society in which the diagnosis was developed. Keep in mind, these disorders are “decided upon” rather than “discovered”. And though they are certainly pointing towards something, they must be understood as constructions, born of particular social, historical, economic, and political factors.

References

Bjorklund, P., 2006. No man's land: Gender bias and social constructivism in the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Issues in mental health nursing, 27(1), pp.3-23. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01612840500312753)
James ‘Fish’ Gill: https://www.instagram.com/james_fish_gill/ // Buy Fish’s new book: How To Fall In Love With Humanity
Johnstone, Lucy & Boyle, Mary & Cromby, John & Dillon, Jacqui & Harper, David & Kinderman, Peter & Longden, Eleanor & Pilgrim, David & Read, John. (2019). Reflections on responses to the Power Threat Meaning Framework one year on. Clinical Psychology Forum. 2019. 47-54. (https://explore.bps.org.uk/content/bpscpf/1/313/47)
Stanley Kubrick (1987) Full Metal Jacket
Cracked: Why Psychiatry is Doing More Harm Than Good (2013) written by James Davies
Altered Mates — Episode 16 — On “Cracked: Why Psychiatry is Doing More Harm Than Good
Lester, R. (2013). Lessons from the borderline: Anthropology, psychiatry, and the risks of being human. Feminism & Psychology. 23. 70-77. (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0959353512467969)
IFS Institute — The Internal Family Systems Model Outline

Links

Altered Mates Website

Altered Mates Instagram

Music for the show by Si Mulumby

A Glimpse of Eternity by Alejandro Tuama

Purchase the novel here (hard copy, ebook and audiobook).
Listen to the free serialised audiobook here.

Episode 26: On the Borderline (Part One)

Altered Mates — Wed, 21 May 2025 17:00:00 +0800

In this episode we discuss Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), also referred to as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD). Somewhat unintentionally Alejandro gives an overview of the TV show Bojack Horseman but this leads to a discussion of the characteristics of BPD using the character of Bojack as an example. We also bring in Anakin Skywalker as another example of a fictional character who may potentially fit the characteristics of someone diagnosed with BPD.

We centre our discussion around a 2006 paper written by Pamela Bjorklund titled, “No man's land: Gender bias and social constructivism in the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder”.

In the process, we break down the diagnostic criteria used in the DSM V for BPD but if you’re interested, see below:

Borderline Personality Disorder:

A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) or the following:

Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment (Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behaviour covered in Criterion 5)
A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterised by alternatingbetween extremes of idealisation and devaluation
Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self
Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g. spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating) (Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behaviour covered in Criterion 5)
Recurrent suicidal behaviour, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behaviour
Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g. intense episodic dysphoria, irritability or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days)
Chronic feelings of emptiness
Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g. frequent displays of temper,constant anger, recurrent physical fights)
Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms