Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that involves symptoms like emotional instability, impulsivity, and feelings of abandonment and emptiness.1,2 According to Theodore Millon, an expert on personality disorders, BPD can be divided into four types: discouraged, impulsive, petulant, and self-destructive.3 People with different types of BPD may vary in the severity of certain symptoms.
What Is BPD?
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a pervasive psychiatric condition that impacts how people feel about themselves and others. BPD sufferers typically experience instability that reflects in their mood, emotions, behavior, and self-image. These issues often lead to chaotic relationships and problems in other important aspects of life. Nevertheless, the signs and symptoms of BPD can differ in intensity, frequency, an/or duration depending on the person who has this condition.4
4 Types of BPD
The four types of borderline personality disorder are discouraged BPD, impulsive BPD, petulant BPD, and self-destructive BPD.
Here are the four types of borderline personality disorder:
1. Discouraged Borderline (Quiet BPD)
The discouraged borderline type is also referred to as the high-functioning BPD or quiet BPD.3 This type of BPD includes a mixture of avoidance and dependence on others. People with discouraged BPD tend to be incredibly loyal and humble, but to a point where they may cling to others. Their identity depends heavily on their relationships, particularly romantic relationships.
If a close relationship ends, they are often unable to cope and their whole world becomes destabilized. Their fear of abandonment can cause them to feel insecure, helpless, and doubtful.
Discouraged borderlines tend to feel depressed and powerless.3 They lack motivation and agency and find small tasks to be insurmountable. As a result, they turn to others for support, but to the point of unhealthy dependence. These individuals also struggle to express anger. Expressing anger conflicts with their self-image, so they may turn their anger inward instead and engage in self-harm or suicide.
People with the discouraged borderline type tend to be:3
- Avoidant
- Depressed
- Hopeless
- Submissive
- Loyal
- Humble
- Helpless
- Vulnerable
- Clingy
- Codependent
2. Impulsive Borderline
People with impulsive borderline personality disorder show a mixture of histrionic and antisocial traits.3 These individuals tend to be distracted, hyperactive, and fail to think before taking action. Because of their lack of self-reflection, their behavior may cause harm to themselves or others. Their emotions are equally as chaotic as their behavior, as they are often easily agitated and irritable.
Impulsive borderlines usually come from chaotic families that involve lots of drama.3 In order to stand out against the chaos, they had to be exciting, unpredictable, and dramatic. For some, they may have felt valued when they were praised for their attractiveness or masculinity, which can lead to seductive behavior and superficial relationships. Overall, their need for attention and stimulation can cause them to feel constantly anxious.
People with the impulsive borderline type tend to be:3
- Superficial
- Irritable
- Chaotic
- Easily annoyed
- Fearful
- Unreliable
- Easily distracted
- Seductive
- Charismatic
- Engaging
- Suicidal
3. Petulant Borderline
The petulant borderline has a passive-aggressive personality style.13 Others may describe them as negative, demanding, stubborn, and impatient. They are often jealous of others’ happiness and resent having to depend on others. Some may report somatic disorders as a way of seeking attention.
Petulant borderlines rarely had their needs met as children and tend to feel insecure in relationships.3 They may have felt mistreated, abused, or manipulated by caretakers. As adults, they may have episodes of feeling worthless, depressed, and guilty, and at other times become overwhelmed with irrational anger and borderline rage. When the episode is over, they often feel guilty, remorseful, and desperate to repair the damage done.
People with the petulant borderline type tend to be:3
- Pessimistic
- Unpredictable
- Defiant
- Impatient
- Irritable
- Stubborn
- Rebellious
- Cynical
- Resentful
- Easily offended
4. Self Destructive BPD
Self-destructive borderlines show masochistic personality traits.3 They tend to direct their feelings inward, which can lead to engaging in dangerous or harmful behaviors toward themselves. While they desperately want to be independent, they are also afraid of it. This causes significant internal tension and conflict.
These individuals tend to be sacrificial, conforming, and deferential in relationships with others.3 Because of the extreme behaviors that they exhibit, over time they may become resentful, bitter, and feel unappreciated. This can lead to increased depression and tension, which is often directed inward, such as through self-harming or suicide attempts.
People with the self-destructive borderline type tend to be:3
- Moody
- Bitter
- Self-loathing
- Overly compliant
- Self-focused
- Directing anger inward
- Submissive
- Suicidal
Can a Person with BPD Fall Into More Than One Subtype?
“There is a lot of overlap between the categories, and someone may exhibit characteristics from multiple subtypes at once. They may also shift from one to another over time due to outside forces. For example, someone who was very impulsive in their teens and early twenties may ultimately give up impulsive behaviors that have negative consequences and may fall into the discouraged subtype as they become less impulsive with age and become dependent on a small number of people to meet their emotional needs.” – Catherine Humenuk, LCSW, MSW, C-DBT, RYT
Low-Functioning vs. High-Functioning BPD
Like any mental health condition, people with borderline personality disorder may vary in their level of functioning. By definition, the symptoms of BPD impact a person’s ability to function in several areas of their lives, such as their relationships, work, and health.1 While all people with BPD experience impairments, some are able to limit the impact of their symptoms.
Low Functioning BPD
Low functioning BPD isn’t a formal diagnosis, but rather is a term used to describe people who experience severe symptoms of BPD that significantly interfere with their functioning. People with severe BPD are more likely to struggle with suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and impulsivity. Individuals with low functioning BPD may require hospitalization if they’re at risk of harming themselves.
Common signs of low functioning BPD include:5
- Suicidal ideation
- Self-harming
- Impulsive and dangerous behaviors, like using drugs or having unprotected sex
High Functioning BPD
High functioning BPD is another name for quiet or discouraged BPD. People with this type of BPD are more likely to internalize their distress, making it less visible to others.3 People with less severe BPD may be safely treated in outpatient settings like partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or weekly therapy.6
Common signs of high functioning BPD include:6
- Depression
- Feelings of chronic emptiness
- Extreme dependence in relationships
Causes of BPD
Like any other psychological disorder, precise causes for BPD are difficult to pinpoint. Nonetheless, many experts agree that interactions among environment, biology and genetics can contribute to its development.4
Contributing factors for BPD include:4
- Genetics: BPD may run in the family. Someone with a close relative (like a parent or sibling) with this condition may be at a higher risk of developing BPD.
- Brain Anomalies: Several studies have linked brain anomalies with BPD. These revealed that variations in brain structure and function may account for symptoms like emotional instability and impulsiveness.
- Childhood Trauma: Many cases of BPD have been associated with childhood trauma. BPD sufferers have reported experiencing traumatic events during childhood, like physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, abandonment, etc.
While having any or a combination of these factors could increase chances of developing BPD that may not always be the case for everyone. Conversely, a person may lack these risk factors and still develop BPD.4
Current Research On BPD Subtypes
While the types of BPD described above are not clinical diagnoses recognized by the DSM-5, professionals rely on these subtypes to help understand the different ways that people with BPD may present.1 At the present time, there is not a significant amount of research on the different types of BPD.
One paper in the 1980’s described three types of BPD: schizophrenic (issues with boundary differentiation), anaclitic (concerns with rejection and abandonment), and introjective (preoccupation with criticism).7
One study of adolescents admitted to an inpatient hospital for BPD found five types: affective, impulsive, dependent, aggressive, and empty.8 Though these types are slightly different from those identified by Millon, there is some overlap, such as similarities between Millon’s discouraged type and the study’s dependent type.
When & How to Get Help For BPD
Borderline personality disorder treatments often involve a combination of individual and group therapy, medications, and self-care. DBT for borderline personality disorder, psychodynamic therapy, and mentalization-based therapy (MBT) are effective therapies for BPD and can help people improve their ability to cope with their emotions, communicate with others, and decrease negative behaviors.9
If a person with BPD is experiencing severe symptoms, like suicidal ideation, then hospitalization may be necessary until their symptoms are stabilized and they can safely be treated in an outpatient setting. While there are no medications specifically for BPD, medications may be prescribed to treat symptoms like depression, mood instability, and anxiety.10 Borderline personality disorder medications are most effective when combined with therapy.
Find a Therapist
Because of its complexities, it is important to choose a therapist that has experience treating BPD. You can find help by searching an online therapist directory, which allows you to identify providers who work with BPD.
Final Thoughts On Types of BPD
If you’re dealing with a form of BPD, you are not alone. Therapy is an effective treatment for BPD and can help you learn to cope with your symptoms. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help today.
For Further Reading
Types of BPD Infographics
