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The key path
- Childhood experiences such as neglect and abuse can be linked to BPD.
- Genetics can play a role in the development of BPD, especially with certain gene variants.
- People with BPD may have different brain structure and function, which affects emotions.
If you or a loved one has borderline personality disorder (BPD), you may be wondering what causes it or if you’ve been blamed. The development of this disorder is complex, and there are likely multiple potential causes, so it is unlikely that one person or thing is at fault.
The exact causes of BPD are still unknown, but most experts believe that BPD develops as a result of biological, genetic, and environmental factors. The following theories have some support but are by no means conclusive. More research is needed to determine how and why the factors discussed below are related to BPD.
Environmental effects
There is strong evidence to support a link between traumatic childhood experiences, particularly with caregivers, and the development of BPD. Types of childhood experiences that may be associated with BPD include:
- Early separation from caregivers
- Emotional or physical neglect
- Parental indifference
- Physical and sexual abuse
It is thought that an interaction between biological factors and an abusive childhood environment may work together to predispose a person to develop BPD. An emotionally invalid environment is one in which a child’s emotional needs are not met.
A void environment is not always obvious to those who experience it or to others around them. These painful experiences can be hidden and even disguised as praise.
Not everyone who has BPD has these types of childhood experiences — although the vast majority do. And not everyone who has these types of experiences will have BPD. It is likely that a combination of factors, rather than a single cause, is responsible for most cases of borderline personality disorder.
Genetics
Although early studies showed that BPD runs in families, for some time, it was not known whether it was due to environmental influences or genetics. There is now some evidence that, in addition to environment, genetic factors play an important role.
In particular, studies show that a mutation in a gene that controls the way the brain uses serotonin (a natural chemical in the brain) may be related to BPD. It seems that people who have this particular genetic mutation are more likely to develop BPD if they experience difficult childhood events (for example, separation from supportive caregivers).
One study found that monkeys with a serotonin gene mutation developed symptoms that looked like BPD, but only when they were taken from their mothers and raised in a low-nurturing environment. Monkeys with the gene variant who were raised by their mothers were much less likely to develop BPD-like symptoms.
Biological factors
Several studies have shown that individuals with BPD have differences in both the structure of the brain and brain function. BPD has been associated with excessive activity in parts of the brain that control the experience and expression of emotions.
For example, people with BPD have greater activation of the limbic system, an area of the brain that controls fear, anger, and aggression, than people without BPD. This difference may be related to the emotional instability symptoms of BPD. Newer studies have also found an association between the hormone oxytocin and the development of BPD.
