What is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)? How is it different from Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and other mental disorders? Is there some border or some sort of edge in this disorder? The author, Randi Kreger answers such questions and explains all the nuances of this disorder, based on her extensive research and insights gained over several years and building on her experience of coauthoring Stop Walking on Eggshells a best seller. 

Part 1 of the book has 6 chapters and gives a good introduction to the subject of BPD. This part is useful to the patients and their family members, friends and colleagues etc. Chapters 5 (Treating BPD) and 6 (Finding Professional help) are really helpful.

Part 2 deals with 5 power tools that help the BP and the non-BP partners to cope with the challenges and hopefully overcome them.

Since I have not had the opportunity to research this topic, I cannot say that this is the best book on the subject or the only book that you would need. However, I can say that it is a very good book to start with if I were starting my education on this topic! Here is an excerpt from the book:

According to Dr. Friedel, director of the BPD program at Virginia Commonwealth University, there are two main differences between BPD and bipolar disorder:

1.    People with BPD cycle much more quickly, often several times a day.

2.    The moods in BPD are more dependent, either positively or negatively, on what is going on in their life at the moment.

Marsha M.Linehan, professor of psychology at the University of Washington, says that while people with bipolar disorder swing between all-encompassing periods of mania and major depression, the mood swings typical in BPD are more specific. She says, “You have fear going up and down, sadness going up and down, anger up and down, and love up and down.”  (Excerpted from Page 48, The Essential Family Guide to Borderline Personality Disorder.)

It is a good example of how the author has done her extensive research and how she succeeds in putting all the diverse information in an easy to read and understand format.  

 The book is based on author’s interaction with mainstream health professionals and does not include alternative, complementary systems, which in my view could play a major role in treatment of such disorders. I hope the author will incorporate the role of such holistic healing systems in her future revisions.

The style is quite readable and the printing quality is quite good.

I am glad to recommend this book for all interested in mental / emotional health of themselves and or their family members, friends, colleagues etc.

More information about the author and her earlier books is available at http://www.bpdcentral.com

© 2009 SwamynSwarna

 

Swamy Swarna is an author, editor, reviewer and a holistic healer. See http://swamyreviews.blogspot.com for his reviews.