Borderline Personality and Addictive Personality Disorders

Borderline Personality Disorder is referred as a deliberated condition that distorts individual´s self-perception that interferes with his/her ability to maintain stable relationships. People suffering from BPD are seen as highly manipulative, dependent, emotionally unstable/distressed and quite often dramatic. This impulsive behaviour, of course, help individuals cope with the overwhelming fear and emotional pain.

Etiology of BPD remains unknown however there are have been several theories (refer to Otto F. Kernberg) that may well explain its origins:

• Dysfunctional familiy environment: Child growing in families where they are emotionally neglected generating the feeling of abandonment that will not leave their lives causing personality to excise and search for the other to "complete/repair" it. 
• Hereditary factors: Since BPD is often seen in close family members, such as parents or siblings it may indicate that certain individuals may have genetic predisposition to this personality disorder.
• Neurological factors: Impulsiveness, emotional inestability and unpredictable behaviour may be caused by abnormalities in some areas of the brain implicated on mood, behaviour and emotions regulation.
• Brain Chemistry: BPD may be linked to imbalances in certain neurotransmitters, naturally produced like serotonin that affect the way we feel and behave.

On the other hand, Addictive Personality may be defined as a psychological setback that makes a person more liable to addictions. This may include from substance or behavioural abuse such as: pornography, gambling, internet, video games, overeating, excercise, WORKAHOLISM and even relationships with others. 

Psychologist Stephen Mason describe the spectrum of behaviours designated as addictive terms of five interrelated concepts that include: patterns, habits, compulsions, impulse control disorders and physical addiction. The individual may switch from one addiction to another, or even sustain multiple addictions at different times. 

Addiction proneness or Addictive Personality is better explained by analyzing biological, psychological and environmental (social) factors:

• Biological factors: Genetic predisposition, abnormalities in dopamine levels can lead individuals to partake in activities that lead to a high dopamine production which then becomes addicting, sensation seeking trait* that may be a result of overactive approach system and those individuals thus seek out external stimuli to compensate for a decreased level of internal arousal. Those who are high in sensation seeking (active behavioural approach) are more likely to develop addictions. 

• Psychological factors: Dr. Alan R. Lang while doing extensive research found several significant set of personality traits that play into addiction: 
• Impulsivity
• Compulsive behaviour
• Value of nonconformity combined with weak commitment to socially valued goals of achievement
• Sense of social alienation and tolerance deviance
• Heightened stress and lack of coping skills. 
• "Addictive System Belief" rooted in cognitive distortions that leads individuals towards being more likely to develop addictions. Thoughts like "I am not good enough" , "I cannot make a change on my world" etc. are core beliefs that have to do with black and white thinking that may lead to developing the many traits common in addictive personality, such as depression and emotional insecurity. 
• Individuals with addictions tend to have an external locus of control and also have an increased tendency towards field dependance. It is important for you to understand that it has not been yet demonstrated whether this traits are causative or simply personality traits found in people with addictions.

• Environmental (Social) factors: Even though genes may play an important role in developing addictions, environment may represent the trigger being pulled that "unlocks" addictive behaviour. Diasthesis-stress model psychological theory attempts to better explain behaviour as a predispositional vulnerability together interacting with stress from life experiences. Stress refers either to a single life event or series of events that disrupt a person´s psychological equilibrium and potentially serves as a catalyst to the development of a disorder, being in this case, Addictive Personality.

Curiosity arouses my suspicion by being able to understand and analyse this two personality disorders leading me to ask: 

Are BPD and Addictive Personality overlapping? 

If pain, emotional inestability, impulsive and/or compulsive behaviour of BPD may place individuals at risk of substance abuse and Addictive Personality already includes this traits probably the relation between the two is volatile as substance consumption may attempt to numb the pain of fear of abandonment. 

It is quite interesting how both are characterized by impulsive, self-destructive behaviours, by mood swings ranging from severe depression to manic episodes of intense energy. Both include manipulative and deceit actions, lack of concern for one´s health and safety as well as the insistent pursue of risky or dangerous experiencies. Most importantly and where particular my interest is focused is the pattern of inestability in relationships, jobs and finances. 

So if addiction can be defined when the engagement activity or experience affects the individual´s quality of life in some way then many people who maintain an addictive personality isolate themselves from social situations in order to mask their addiction.  


References

• Kernberg. O. (1975) "Borderline Conditions and Pathological Narcissism". Barnes & Noble Books.
• Lang, Alan R. (1983). "Addictive Personality: A Viable Construct?". In Levison, Peter K.; Gerstein, Dean R.; Maloff, Deborah R. Commonalities in Substance Abuse and Habitual Behavior. Lexington Books. pp. 157–236.
• Mason, Stephen (March 14, 2009). "The Addictive Personality". Psychology Today.
• Sarramon, C; Verdoux, H; Schmitt, L; Bourgeois, M (1999). "Addiction and personality traits: Sensation seeking, anhedonia, impulsivity"