• BPD makes up at least 2% of the general population, (1.6 million people in the UK & 6 million in North America)

• BPD comprises 20% of the inpatient psychiatric population.

• BPD makes up 11% of the outpatients in the mental health system.

• As a comparison, BPD affects 50% more people than Alzheimer's disease and nearly as many as schizophrenia and bipolar combined (2.25%).

• An estimated 10% of BPD patients die by suicide.

• Approximately 20% of men who batter have BPD.

• Males with BPD are often sent to jail or prison for violent outbursts resulting from a biological inability to control impulsivity.

• BPD generally co-occurs with depression, an anorexia-bulimia, and other problems resulting from impulsivity (drunk or reckless driving, gambling, sex addiction or shoplifting).

• BPD patients have replaced schizophrenics in the revolving door of psychiatric treatment.

• Parents of those with BPD have replaced the "schizophrenogenic mothers" and the "ice-box mothers'' of autistic children as the family group who are now blamed for a psychiatric illness.

• Treatment is available. It should include carefully monitored psycho-pharmacology for symptom reduction and cognitive behavioral therapy including psychoeducation and skills training.

• Between 21-67% of people with BPD meet the criteria for substance abuse.

• Of the MICA (menially ill/chemical abusers) population, 50-67% meet criteria for BPD.

• TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE THAT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE CRITICAL LINK WITH BPD IS BOUND TO FAIL.

Consequences of BPD

• People with a personality disorder are at high risk of behaviors that can lead to physical illness (such as alcohol or drug addiction); self-destructive behavior, reckless sexual behavior, hypochondriasis, and clashes with society's values.

• They may have inconsistent, detached, overemotional, abusive, or irresponsible styles of parenting, leading to medical and psychiatric problems in their children.

• They are vulnerable to mental breakdowns (a period of crisis when a person has difficulty performing even routine mental tasks) as a result of stress.

• They may develop a mental health disorder; the type (for example, anxiety, depression, or psychosis) depends in part on the type of personality disorder.

• They are less likely to follow a prescribed treatment regimen; even when they follow the regimen, they are usually less responsive to drugs than most people are.

• They often have a poor relationship with their doctor because they refuse to take responsibility for their behavior or they feel overly distrustful, deserving, or needy. The doctor may then start to blame, distrust, and ultimately reject the person.