Borderline personality disorder, like other personality disorders, begins at a young age, usually with prodromes as early as school age, with manifestations involving the sphere of affectivity, personal and interpersonal functioning, control of impulsivity and self-image.

In particular, subjects affected by borderline personality disorder often assume behaviours characterised by strong impulsivity, affective ambivalence, reduced constancy and volition, mood swings with possible episodes of self-directed aggression, instability in mood tones and interpersonal relations, feelings of empty anguish. 

At the base of these behaviours there is also a biological reason to be found in the hyper-reactivity of the amygdala, that is the part of the brain in charge of managing emotions, which prevents the development of the prefrontal areas, that is the areas involved in the planning of complex cognitive behaviours, in the expression of personality, in decision making and in the moderation of social behaviour. For this reason, the subject, having an atypical perception of the emotions and behaviour of others, often feels inadequate in social life and in the world, triggering behaviour, sometimes self-damaging, which only accentuates the feeling of unease and shame.

The development of the disorder is often anticipated by a developmental disorder observable as early as childhood and school age, the core of suffering around which the disorder is often structured are: abandonment anxiety with feelings of inadequacy and deep shame.

The disorder is mainly treated through the use of psychotherapy combined with pharmacological therapy aimed at the containment of impulsivity and / or any concomitant emotional frameworks (e.g. depression). Sharing one’s suffering through group therapy has proved to be very effective, therefore from September 2021 the Santa Croce Clinic has decided to introduce the GET^® Method in its treatment offer, specifically for the treatment of borderline personality disorder in groups.