Here are all the mnemonics you ever wanted on Borderline Personality Disorder. These mnemonics covers all aspects of the disease/health condition
Causes of BPD:
Mnemonic: PANDAS
P – Psychological trauma in childhood
A – Abandonment fears
N – Neurobiological factors
D – Dysfunctional family environment
A – Abuse (emotional, physical, or sexual)
S – Stressful life events
Triggers for BPD:
Mnemonic: RELATE
R – Rejection, perceived or real
E – Emotional stress
L – Loss of relationships
A – Abandonment, even if just feared
T – Traumatic events
E – Extreme emotional shifts
Risk Factors For BPD:
Mnemonic: SCARRED
S – Sexual abuse history
C – Close family members with BPD
A – Abandonment in childhood or adolescence
R – Repeated emotional abuse
R – Rough (chaotic) family life
E – Early parental loss
D – Disrupted attachment with caregivers
Warning Signs of BPD:
Mnemonic: MOODY
M – Mood swings
O – Overwhelming fear of abandonment
O – Outbursts of anger
D – Distorted self-image
Y – Yielding impulsive behavior
Predisposing Factors of BPD:
Mnemonic: HURT
H – Hereditary predisposition
U – Unstable relationships in history
R – Rough (traumatic) childhood
T – Turbulent emotional experiences early in life
Signs & Symptoms of BPD:
Mnemonic: EMOTION
E – Emotional instability
M – Mood swings
O – Outbursts of anger
T – Tumultuous relationships
I – Impulsive behavior
O – Overwhelming fear of abandonment
N – Negative self-image
Characteristic Findings In BPD:
Mnemonic: CHAOS
C – Chronic feelings of emptiness
H – Heightened sensitivity to rejection
A – Anger issues
O – Oscillating moods
S – Self-destructive behavior
What Should Be Avoided In BPD:
Mnemonic: STRESS
S – Stressful relationships
T – Triggers of past trauma
R – Rejecting or invalidating environments
E – Excessive criticism
S – Substance abuse
S – Stressful life changes
Drugs Used To Treat BPD:
Mnemonic: MAD
M – Mood stabilizers (e.g., Lithium)
A – Antidepressants (e.g., SSRIs)
D – Antipsychotics (atypical, e.g., Aripiprazole)
Drugs To Avoid In BPD:
Mnemonic: PAIN
P – Psychoactive substances (recreational drugs)
A – Alcohol
I – Illicit drugs
N – Narcotics
Diagnostic Tests for BPD:
Mnemonic: PSYCH
P – Psychological evaluations
S – Structured interviews
Y – Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (for comorbidity assessment)
C – Clinical assessments by psychiatrists
H – History taking (especially personal and family history)
Contraindications of BPD Medications:
Mnemonic: DANGER
D – Depression medications in bipolar disorder
A – Alcohol consumption
N – Narcotic painkillers
G – Glaucoma (caution with certain antipsychotics)
E – Epilepsy (some medications may lower seizure threshold)
R – Renal or liver impairment (dose adjustment needed)
Indications of BPD Medications:
Mnemonic: STABLE
S – Stabilize mood
T – Treat comorbid conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety)
A – Alleviate impulsivity
B – Balance emotional responses
L – Lessen anger outbursts
E – Enhance quality of life
Side effects of BPD Medications:
Mnemonic: SIDE
S – Sedation
I – Increased appetite and weight gain
D – Dry mouth
E – Emotional blunting
Clinical Features of BPD:
Mnemonic: FEAR
F – Frantic efforts to avoid abandonment
E – Emotional instability
A – Angry outbursts
R – Risky, impulsive behaviors
Complications of BPD:
Mnemonic: HARM
H – High risk of suicide and self-harm
A – Anxiety disorders
R – Relationship problems
M – Mood swings
Differential Diagnosis of BPD:
Mnemonic: MOODS
M – Mood disorders (e.g., Bipolar Disorder)
O – Other personality disorders (e.g., Histrionic, Narcissistic)
O – Organic brain syndromes
D – Dissociative disorders
S – Substance abuse disorders