Does Britney Spears have Borderline Personality Disorder?
It was widely reported in the press after Britney Spear’s “breakdown” and stand-off with the police over the return of her children that she has “a bipolar disorder.” See this excerpt from TMZ.com:
TMZ reported that Spears’ friends “have known for a while that Britney has a very serious mental condition — likely a bipolar disorder that is now in the red zone.”
I think the language here is quite important. Borderline Personality Disorder is so maligned that not a single celebrity has come out and stated that they have the disorder. Bipolar disorder, on the other hand, is not considered just the result of “bad behavior” – it is considered biological in nature – and therefore many celebrities have come out and admitted they have bipolar disorder. Bipolar is an Axis I disorder, BPD an Axis II.
Unfortunately, this distinction is a fallacy. Experts are considering changing the name of BPD to Emotional Regulation Disorder (or emotional dysregulation disorder) and making it Axis I. Why? Because clearly a large part of BPD is biological.
One of the main differences between bipolar and BPD is the length of the mood swings. In the case of Bipolar Disorder the length of the manic and depressive episodes (and mixed episodes) usually lasts days or weeks, if not longer. There is the case of Bipolar II in which a person may experience hypomania – which is possibly why the media has reported Britney to have “a” bipolar disorder, rather than just “bipolar disorder” (although some of the media has removed the “a” from in front of the reported disorder). Substance abuse and suicide are both common with Bipolar Disorder and it effects about one half to 1 and one half of a percent of the population.
Borderline Personality Disorder is actually more common than bipolar disorder – some estimates say that it is up to 5% of women and about 2% of the population at large. It is characterized by wildly swinging emotions – not moods. Although many want to classify it as a subclass of mood disorders (like Cyclothymia), it is more a dysregulation of the emotional system. Emotions are immediate and the behaviors, impulsiveness, rage, “moods”, etc. only last for HOURS, not days or weeks. The DSM-IV says this about BPD:
Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).
Substance abuse is so common with BPD sufferers that most estimates say it is co-morbid in over 75%. Also, self-destructive impulses are common (like cutting, over-eating, eating disorders, shopping, shoplifting, sexual deviance or inappropriateness) with BPD. As are suicidal gestures and thoughts, but these are usually impulsive. Impulsivity is a major problem with BPD and here is what the DSM-IV says about that:
Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating).
While I am not a doctor and not knowledgeable enough to diagnose Britney, I suspect that she may have BPD (or bipolar II) and, if she does have BPD, I would hope that she could be the first celebrity to come out and say so. It’s not her fault. It’s not just “bad behavior”. It is a serious mental illness and should be taken care of immediately. What I don’t understand is why she doesn’t get herself a “helper” to aid her in the regulation of her obviously dysregulated and impulsive behavior.
Bon Dobbs :: Jan.08.2008 :: Celebrities, Impulsiveness, Borderline Personality Disorder :: 8 Comments »
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[…] are fascinated with the lives (and mental states) of celebs. When I launched my first article on a celeb (Britney Spears) with possible BPD, my blog accesses/hits jumped through the roof. So, over to the right you can find a graph of a […]
I have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, adn have read numerous books surrounding the subject. As soon as I started learning what was happening in Britney’s life it made me think immediately that she has the same disorder that I do.
Get herself a “helper”? Are you kidding? I have borderline also, but you must know that although we do realize that we have issues with impulsivity, asking for help to some of us represents the ultimate failure. It takes a very self-aware person suffering from this and an ability to really accept that you can’t handle your life to do that…very difficult for us.
It is estimated that around 70% or people with BPD have been victims of sexual abuse and although it is against current medical oppinion i believe BPD is not caused by biological factors but is an environmental response when this evidence is considered. That being said it is a serious mental illness and requires treatment.
i think Britney does suffer from one of the two illnesses discussed. there were reports in the media that something serious happened to Britney 5 years ago but no mention of what this event was. perhaps this was abuse of some sort (not necessarily sexual). as a celebrity i imagine her bringing an issue like this to the medias attention would be even more traumatic and difficult than for someone not under the spotlight. So it is understandable that she has kept some things private. however, i think the stigma surrounding illness needs to be addressd and a celebrity would be a brilliant way of reducing the publics fear regarding such matters.
Either way i think Britney is back on track for the moment. so good luck to her. i hope she overcomes her demons
1. Overeating is not counted as one of the self-destructive behaviors in BPD. (Almost everyone “overeats” frequently.) Binge eating is what you’re talking about.
2. Your prevalence numbers aren’t consistent. If the general population estimate is 2%, then the 5% number for women can’t be right. It would have to be less than 4%.
3. Sexual deviance or inappropriateness aren’t what they mean by self-destructive sexual behaviors (they’re talking more unprotected sex).
4. I’d be skeptical of both bipolar or BPD diagnoses in the context of serious drug and alcohol abuse.
Ok, first of all….
1. Eating for emotional comfort and binge eating are self-destructive. Each is an adaptation to emotional pain. Emotional pain is the hallmark of BPD.
2. Some experts say that up to 5% of women have a form of the disorder. Some say 2% of the total population. 75% of BPs are women. I’m not going to “do the math” because those stats are citing two separate sources - one that says it is more common in women than we previously thought.
3. You have to be kidding me.
4. Drug and alcohol abuse is common with Borderlines.
I can’t believe you bothered to comment on this story in that way and didn’t bother to leave a real email address.
When the stories about Britney Spears’ behavior started to surface in the news and the media began their “what was she thinking” hype, my thoughts went out to her. I am 32 and was diagnosed with BPD 2 years ago. After being consumed by particular demons for a long period of time and making an unmentionable amount of mistakes (i.e. self-destructiveness, substances, relational issues out the ying-yang, rage, you name it….)….relating to someone even so far from my world of reality as a common housewife isn’t difficult at all.
I recently viewed her newest video, “Womanizer”. In my opinion, the girl has at least scratched the surface as to where her demons lie. She is facing them with quite an inner strength, as her song / video accurately portray to theose who truly understand the disorder. I can’t describe accurately enough the connection I felt in the underlying issues she is singing about and demostrating in the video. As a BPD suffer / fighter, all I can say is…..look out world. You’ve got one strong girl you’re messing with. And she’s got your game.
Well It may be
But I think it’s more likely that Britney first suffered from postpartum depression, and has since gotten delusional and psychotic