The Latest: Phenotype and Measurement Conference

BPDRF in collaboration with NIMH held a conference on October 19th and 20th, 2006, to stimulate and focus research concerning borderline personality disorder and its core features. More info about this event, including meeting minutes, is available here. Also available: conference papers and presentations.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a severe, chronic, disabling, and potentially lethal psychiatric condition. People who suffer with this disorder have extreme and long standing instability in their emotional lives, as well as in their behavior and their self-image. This is a common disorder affecting 2% of the general population. The best evidence indicates that about 11% of psychiatric outpatients and 19% of inpatients meet diagnostic criteria for BPD.

Despite the devastating nature of this disorder, it has not received the scientific and clinical attention that other health and psychiatric problems of equal, or even lesser, level of disability have received.

To learn more about BPD click here.

The Borderline Personality Disorder Research Foundation (BPDRF) is a non-profit organization that supports international research on the underlying causes, characteristics, and treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD).

	Defining BPD as an entity and refining the diagnostic criteria of the disorder.
	Understanding the genetic, biological, cognitive, emotional, and social processes that contribute to the development and manifestation of BPD.
	Developing and testing innovative and promising approaches to treatment.
	Attracting the best young scientists to devote their careers to the investigation of BPD.
	Educating the public about BPD.

	An integrated, interdisciplinary approach is encouraged which includes biology, neuroscience, basic behavioral science, and clinical science.
	Collaboration between basic and clinical scientists is strongly encouraged.
	Cooperation with governmental agencies is facilitated.

The Foundation announced the awards for young and established investigators in April 2003. To see the list of the awardees click here.

To learn more about the Foundation click here.