Personality disorders: myths vs facts

How common are personality disorders? Is borderline personality disorder only a women's condition? Do people get better? Ten questions, some harder than they look, checked against NIMH, NAMI, the NHS and Mayo Clinic.

Just for reflection and learning — not a test or a diagnosis.

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Personality disorders Borderline personality disorder Treatment for personality disorders Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills

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Common questions

How common are personality disorders?

In a U.S. national survey (2001–2003), about 9 in 100 adults had a personality disorder in the past year, and about 1.4 in 100 had borderline personality disorder.

Can borderline personality disorder get better?

Yes. Talk therapies such as DBT and mentalization-based therapy help, and in a 16-year study most people reached a lasting remission of symptoms.

Is there a medicine for borderline personality disorder?

No medicine is approved specifically for BPD. Medicine may help with some symptoms or other conditions, but talk therapy is the main treatment.

Is this quiz a test for a personality disorder?

No. It is for learning only. Only a trained mental health professional can diagnose a personality disorder.