Prescribing in borderline personality disorder: Evidence, relationships, and the realities of practice

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that affects how people think, feel and relate to others. It can be deeply distressing for the person experiencing it, for their loved ones and the professionals trying to help. Although people often disagree about the label for this condition, what truly matters is ensuring people access evidence-based help when they need it most.

Many people don’t realise this, but no medication is officially approved to treat BPD in the UK, US or Europe (Gartlehner, 2021, NICE, 2009). Instead, the main treatment recommended by experts is psychological therapy (NICE, 2009).

But here’s the real-world twist: despite these recommendations, psychiatric…