Borderline Stigma

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Navigating the Stigma: The Impact of a Borderline Personality Diagnosis on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Individuals Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is defined as a psychiatric condition in which an individual has impairment in self-identity, self-direction, and interpersonal relationships. A central feature of BPD includes an unstable self-image, which may manifest as dissociative states in response to stress and providing inconsistent or conflicting self-descriptions. Throughout the course of borderline personality disorder in the DSM, the DSM-3 included confusion of gender identity as an example of identity disturbance in individuals with BPD. Additionally, a significant portion of the literature …show more content…
This typically encompasses medical treatment, which may include the use of medications like puberty blockers or hormones as well as surgical procedures. Although an increasing number of healthcare providers are using the informed consent model, many still require a mental health assessment and referral letter from a licensed practitioner prior to providing care. This process becomes more difficult for an individual with a borderline personality disorder diagnosis due to the stigma surrounding BPD. Collectively, the literature highlights the importance of a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between mental health and gender identity. Additionally, it underscores the potential for misdiagnosis of borderline personality disorder in TGNC individuals. The implications signal the need for expanded research with larger sample sizes, the promotion of gender-affirming care practices, and educational efforts to address barriers and biases within the medical and mental health fields. Ultimately, the objective is to foster an environment that supports the mental health and well-being of transgender and gender nonconforming …show more content…
Most commonly, financial barriers were mentioned, including lack of insurance coverage for transgender-specific care or inability to afford out-of-pocket expenses, including travel expenses, medications, or surgeries. Notably, structural barriers within healthcare systems were also reported. These included restrictive insurance policies, long wait times for appointments, and a lack of access to necessary services in rural areas, all of which further hindered access to gender-affirming care (Puckett et al., 2018). Borderline Personality Disorder Diagnosis and TGNC Identity There has been a long history between transgender and gender nonconforming identities and borderline personality disorder (Goldhammer et al., 2019). To examine this relationship, Rodriguez-Seijas et al. (2023) sought to investigate if a diagnostic disparity exists in diagnosing TGNC individuals with BPD compared to cisgender counterparts. Additionally, they sought to see if this potential disparity could be explained by BPD-specific