BPD Living With BPD Legal Issues and Borderline Personality Disorder By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 15, 2021 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Adah Chung Fact checked by Adah Chung LinkedIn Adah Chung is a fact checker, writer, researcher, and occupational therapist. Learn about our editorial process Print Robert Daly If you have borderline personality disorder (BPD), you are already well-acquainted with the serious impact symptoms can have on your life. In addition to problems in relationships, work, and physical health, many people with BPD also suffer from legal issues. In fact, about a third of people with BPD will be convicted of a crime in their lifetime. BPD symptoms can cause you to get in trouble with the law, but knowing more about legal issues and how they are affected by BPD can help you identify potential problem areas. Impulsive Behavior and the Law One source of significant legal trouble is impulse control. If you have BPD, you may struggle with taking actions without thinking about the consequences or engaging in behaviors when you are angry or upset. This is called impulsive behavior and it can land many people with BPD in hot water. Reckless driving, shoplifting and getting into fights are all examples of impulsive behaviors that are also illegal. Since many with BPD feel emotions intensely and have severe reactions, this is a very common issue. BPD and Family Law In addition to problems with impulsive behaviors, you may have significant difficulties in relationships. Relationships with high levels of conflict are a core feature of BPD. Unfortunately, this means that people with BPD can become entangled in legal battles through a divorce. In addition, custody issues can arise when BPD couples separate. Finally, domestic violence can be a serious issue in BPD relationships. Relationships can be incredibly tumultuous when you have BPD, so being aware of the potential for conflict can help you effectively communicate before issues arise. Teens With Legal Issues and BPD Teenagers with BPD can run into their own set of legal problems. BPD frequently begins to show up during adolescence, so teenagers are especially at risk of dangerous behaviors and legal troubles. For example, teens struggling with BPD often have very poor school attendance and can run into truancy laws. This can also affect their parents, particularly in places where parents are legally responsible for their child's school attendance and other behavior. This can be another way that relationships with loved ones can be strained through BPD. Child Abuse and Neglect Child abuse and neglect are potential environmental causes of BPD, even though not all people with BPD suffered from childhood maltreatment. But, child abuse can also be an outcome of BPD. Very intense emotions, including borderline rage, can drive someone with BPD to abuse their children or to be so consumed with their own emotions that they neglect their children's care. There are also many with BPD whose symptoms get in the way of effective parenting. Some are so impaired by their symptoms that they engage in criminal abuse and neglect, sometimes leading to arrest and incarceration. This does not mean that you are destined to be a bad parent if you have BPD. With proper therapy and treatments, many people with BPD are excellent, caring parents. It is just important to recognize the potential for legal issues in order to cope with BPD. Substance Abuse In addition to the core symptoms of BPD that can lead to legal issues, some of the conditions that often co-occur with BPD can be their own source of problems. Rates of alcohol and substance abuse in BPD are remarkably high. Addiction to illegal substances, along with illegal behaviors to maintain a substance habit, can lead to an arrest. If you have borderline personality disorder, intense emotions and quick reactions can be difficult to control and can lead to legal issues. To prevent ending up arrested or harming relationships with loved ones, it's important to find a therapist you trust to help you with BPD and teach you appropriate symptom management skills. The Best Online Therapy Programs We've tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain. 6 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Sansone RA, Sansone LA. Borderline Personality and Criminality. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2009;6(10):16-20. Lawrence KA, Allen JS, Chanen AM. Impulsivity in Borderline Personality Disorder: Reward-Based Decision-Making and Its Relationship to Emotional Distress. J Pers Disord. 2010;24(6):786-799. doi:10.1521/pedi.2010.24.6.785 Lazarus SA, Choukas-Bradley S, Beeney JE, Byrd AL, Vine V, Stepp SD. Too Much Too Soon?: Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms and Romantic Relationships in Adolescent Girls. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2019;47(12):1995-2005. doi:10.1007/s10802-019-00570-1 Lawrence D, Dawson V, Houghton S, Goodsell B, Sawyer MG. Impact of mental disorders on attendance at school. Aust J Educ. 2019;63(1):5-21. doi:10.1177/0004944118823576 González RA, Igoumenou A, Kallis C, Coid JW. Borderline personality disorder and violence in the UK population: Categorical and dimensional trait assessment. BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:180. doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0885-7 Trull TJ, Freeman LK, Vebares TJ, Choate AM, Helle AC, Wycoff AM. Borderline personality disorder and substance use disorders: an updated review. Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul. 2018;5:15. doi:10.1186/s40479-018-0093-9 By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist for BPD Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.