Hopelessness for Family Members of Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Description

Page: 108-111

Mehreen Tariq and Neelam Mishra (Psychiatry Department, Gangaram City Hospital, New Delhi)

The main focus of the present study was to investigate the phenomenon of hopelessness present in family members of BPD patients. This study attempts to fill this gap by exploring the antecedents and consequences of hopelessness in caregivers of BPD patients. Building on existing literature, the study highlights the unique emotional burdens that caregivers experience as a result of the unpredictable course of BPD, including emotional exhaustion, learned helplessness, and compassion fatigue. Core findings show that the cyclical crises, relational volatility, and chronicity of BPD contribute to despair, resulting in psychological distress and strained relationships within the family. The study also emphasizes that caregivers’ mental health suffers in the face of hopelessness, leading to social withdrawal and diminished capacity to give care. These findings underscore the pressing need for family-centered approaches, including psychoeducational and therapeutic interventions, to alleviate hopelessness in the caregivers which can be crucial in nurturing resilience. The study fills a gap in research by examining this underexplored emotional state and improves clinical practices required to ensure both caregivers and people with BPD are included in improvements to clinical practices.