Monday, February 15, 2010

Borderline personality disorder and sleep problems in prison

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by impulsiveness, unstable moods, relationship difficulties and low self-esteem. People with BPD are more likely to take drugs, behave antisocially and self-harm and are at much greater risk of getting into trouble with the law. Scientists think that only 1-2% of the population as a whole have BPD but this rises to 23-30% of people in prison. People with BPD who are in prison often have sleep problems but it is unclear whether it is the BPD itself of the depression that often goes with it that causes these. Researchers from George Mason University in Virginia studied 513 prisoners and found that symptoms of BPD were significantly associated with sleep problems even after allowing for the effects of depression. Drug use did not affect the link between BPD and depression. Depression was also associated with sleep disorders but again this link was independent of whether people were taking drugs or not.

Harty, Laura ... [et al] - Are inmates' subjective sleep problems associated with borderline personality, psychopathy, and antisocial personality independent of depression and substance dependence? Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology February 2010, 21(1), 23-38

1 comment:

Patti said...

My daughter was diagnosed with BPD. She is always tired and always wants to take a nap. Sometimes, I think it is a way to avoid having to do anything that she doesn't want to do or deal with. She lays down every day after school, and if I let her, would sleep through the night.....I only let her sleep an hour or two at the most. If I don't let her get some sleep after school, she is very crabby and defiant. When I have tried to make her get up or not let her take a nap, it generally results in a huge blow-up.