oh no megan!

The Science: Intro

singlescoop:

madamex:

The topic of my genetics term paper is the genetic influence on the expression of BPD.  As I wade through the literature, I will write about what I find here.  Past observations imply a strong genetic component to BPD, but how genes cause or affect the disease is still largely unknown (at least to me).

I think it’s important for people to know about the linkage.  I also think it’s important for people to know how it works.  Knowing leads to understanding, and understanding leads to accepting.  And acceptance removes the stigma of manic depressives being crazy, unmanageable, or awkward social outcasts.

But I can’t deny that I’m also being selfish.  I want an answer.  I didn’t ask for this disease.  Knowing how it works gives some measure of security and dominance.  Not only would I understand my neurochemistry, but I would feel like I have some control over BPD.

Sometimes the episodes make me feel very out of control.

I just took place in a study on this very topic - the aim of the study was to test whether borderline personality disorder and its three component personality traits (affective instability, behavioral dyscontrol, and interpersonal instability) are associated with BPD in first degree relatives. It’s something that I really want to do more research on, and am looking so forward to seeing further information regarding the subject.