BPD Symptoms and Diagnosis How to Reduce the Risk of Inheriting BPD By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 15, 2024 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Steven Gans, MD Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Getty Images Trending Videos Close this video player If you have borderline personality disorder (BPD) and kids, you've probably wondered if they could inherit BPD from you. Although BPD does have a strong genetic component, rest easy: Your children most likely will not develop borderline personality disorder—and you can take action to help prevent it. Is BPD Genetic? Research has shown that borderline personality disorder can run in families. This happens most likely for a few reasons. According to research, the heritability of BPD is an estimated 46%. The remaining risk varies depending on the individual and is connected to unique environmental factors. Having a genetic susceptibility to BPD isn't a guarantee that someone will eventually develop the condition, however. Other studies tracking BPD in families, particularly in twins, have suggested that interactions between your genes and your environment also play an important role. Other Risk Factors The types of environments that can put children at risk of developing BPD also run in families. For example, someone who is maltreated as a child is at greater risk to develop BPD. That person is also at greater risk of having difficulty parenting. It is hard to be an effective parent when you are struggling with BPD symptoms, and it does not help if you did not have good parenting models yourself. Although you can't change genetics, you have some control over your child's environment. In fact, research has uncovered strong evidence that the environment has a strong influence on whether people with the genes for BPD actually develop the disorder. Recap Genes are a risk factor for BPD, but environment also plays an important role. This means that there are steps you can take that may minimize your risk or your children's risk of developing BPD. How to Decrease the Risk of BPD Because BPD is also influenced by factors other than genetics, you can try a few things that may help lower the risk that you or your children will develop borderline personality disorder. Get Treatment The first thing that you can do is to get treatment for yourself. People who undergo effective treatment for borderline personality disorder under the guidance of a mental health professional can improve significantly. Some people no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for BPD after they finish treatment. Having fewer symptoms means having more resources for effective parenting. Your doctor or therapist can help figure out an effective treatment path for you. Borderline Personality Disorder Discussion Guide Get our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctor's appointment. Download PDF Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Evaluate Your Home Environment Once you are in treatment, express your concerns about your children to your care provider, and ask for help. Your provider can help you evaluate your home surroundings and whether your symptoms could be affecting your parenting skills. Enroll in Skills Training Your therapist may even be able to refer you to programs that help people build skills to be more effective parents. People with borderline personality disorder can be very effective and nurturing parents, but because the symptoms of BPD can be very intense, for many people this does take some work. Treatment Options BPD is typically treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. A number of different types of talk therapy have been shown to be helpful for treating this condition, including Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) Transference-focused psychotherapy Mentalization-based therapy Schema-focused therapy Medications that may be prescribed to treat BPD include antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, and anti-anxiety medications. These may relieve symptoms of anxiety, depression, impulsivity, and paranoid thinking. Self-help strategies, such as developing new coping skills to regulate emotions and cope with distress, can also be beneficial if you have BPD. Takeaway Although BPD has a strong genetic component, that does not mean that you will develop the condition inevitably or pass it down to your children. Genetics may increase the risk, but you can take steps to manage your condition and reduce the impact that it has on your loved one. Getting treatment is an important step that can help you cope with the symptoms of BPD, develop new coping skills, and change household patterns that might increase the risk of your children developing BPD. If you or a loved one are struggling with [condition name], contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Frequently Asked Questions Does BPD run in families? Having family members with BPD can increase your risk of developing the condition as well. This is due to shared genetic and environmental factors that play a role in causing BPD. How old are people when BPD first develops? The age of onset for BPD symptoms usually occurs during adolescence or early adulthood. Research suggests that people typically begin treatment for the condition around age 18. 4 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Bjorkenheim, J., Sihvonen, J., Perkiö, E., Raevuori, A., Rihoutari, M., Paunio, T., et al. (2019). Familial risk and heritability of diagnosed borderline personality disorder: a register study of the Swedish population. Molecular Psychiatry, 24(8), 1202-1209. doi:10.1038/s41380-019-0395-3 Skoglund C, Tiger A, Rück C, et al. Familial risk and heritability of diagnosed borderline personality disorder: a register study of the Swedish population. Mol Psychiatry. 2021;26(3):999-1008. doi:10.1038/s41380-019-0442-0 Amad A, Ramoz N, Thomas P, Jardri R, Gorwood P. Genetics of borderline personality disorder: systematic review and proposal of an integrative model. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014;40:6-19. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.01.003 Biskin RS. The lifetime course of borderline personality disorder. Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):303-308. doi:10.1177/070674371506000702 Additional Reading Lis E, Greenfield B, Henry M, Guile JM, Dougherty G. Neuroimaging and Genetics in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Review. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 32:162-173, 2007. Zanarini MC, and Frenkenburg FR. Pathways to the Development of Borderline Personality Disorder. Journal of Personality Disorders, 11:93-104, 1997. By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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