PREVALENCE OF BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER AMONG SYRIAN PRIVATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Bilal Majed Kharfan M.D*, Fares Assad Mhanna M.D, Youssef Latifeh M.D PhD

ABSTRACT

Background: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by changes in self-image and interpersonal relationships that are characterized by sudden shifts between idealization (overly positive views of self and others) and devaluation (overly negative views of self and others). People with borderline personality disorder typically suffers from anxiety, irritability, and affective disorder as well as impulsive behaviors related to spending (Profusion), sexual activity, drugs abuse, or polyphagia. Borderline personality disorder affects approximately 0.7–2.7% of adults. Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of borderline personality disorder (BPD) among undergraduate students at the Syrian Private University (SPU), Damascus, Syria, where we seek to diagnose the presence of the disorder in addition to studying the impact of many factors whether those related to childhood or adulthood, from environmental, material, emotional, family and even academic conditions, and studying the manifestations that are common in this group of students. Methods: After obtaining approval from the Deanship of the Faculty of Medicine and the Ethics Committee at the Syrian Private University SPU, We designed an electronic questionnaire and distributed it randomly among students with informed consent from the participating student in a mandatory option to participate in the questionnaire. The questionnaire did not include any personal information referring to the participating student, but rather demographic data and variables related to our study. We designed the questionnaire and distributed it among students in the period between 5/1/2024 - 10/1/2024 and obtained 250 participating students, we excluded 30 students for not completing the questionnaire optimally and selected 220 students. Results we found a statistically significant association between the incidence of the Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and the age, gender, and the emotional and family status, but there was no significant effect of financial status, finally there was a relation between the incidence od disorder and a history of early separation from the partner.

Keywords: Borderline Personal Disorder, Temperament, Family problems, emotional problems, financial problems, symptoms, mansion.