Borderline Personality Disorder
When To Call a Doctor
Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if:
- You think you cannot keep from harming yourself or someone else.
- You hear voices (auditory hallucinations).
- Someone you know attempts suicide or shows warning signs of suicide, such as talking about suicide.
- Someone you know talks about harming you or someone else.
- Someone you know shows signs of detachment from reality (psychosis) or is using alcohol or drugs excessively.
Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting means taking a wait-and-see approach.
Watchful waiting is not appropriate for borderline personality disorder. If you are concerned about symptoms, contact a health professional.
Who To See
Treatment for borderline personality disorder usually involves professional counselling and sometimes medicine, especially if you have another condition that often responds well to medicine (such as depression). It is important that you establish a long-term and trusting relationship with your health professionals for treatment of this disorder.
Professional counselling can be provided by a:
- Psychiatrist.
- Psychologist.
- Licensed mental health counsellor who has special training in treating borderline personality disorder.
- Social worker who has special training in treating borderline personality disorder.
If you need medicine therapy along with professional counselling, it can be prescribed by your:
- Psychiatrist (who can also diagnose mental health conditions).
- Family physician.
- Nurse practitioner.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment
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| Author: | Jeannette Curtis | Last Updated: June 27, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry | |
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