Chronic Pain
Medical cannabis treatments for BPD
Borderline personality disorder (BPD), sometimes referred to as emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), is a mental health condition that affects how you are able to regulate your emotions. This can lead to mood instability, impulsive behaviour, and difficulty maintaining stable relationships. It affects between 1 and 2 percent of the UK population, and is regarded as being highly treatable.
While conventional treatment options have been shown to be effective for many people with BPD, particularly specialist psychological therapies such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), not all find sufficient relief from their symptoms. In cases like this, medical cannabis may be considered as a second-line treatment option.
1 to 2% of people
in the UK live with BPD, the most commonly diagnosed personality disorder
Twice as common
in women as in men, according to NHS England data
Up to 65%
of people with BPD have a lifetime history of chronic pain, one of the symptoms cannabis may be prescribed for
Up to 1 in 3 people
with BPD also live with PTSD, another condition cannabis may help manage
Symptoms
A persistent fear of abandonment
An unstable sense of self and identity disturbance
Chronic feelings of emptiness
Colouring depression
Difficulty regulating emotional responses
Impulsive behaviour
Intense and rapidly shifting emotions
Intense anger and difficulty controlling it
Self-harm and suicidal thoughts or behaviours
Severe anxiety
Stress-related paranoia and dissociative symptoms
Unstable and intense interpersonal relationships
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, please speak with your GP to find out more.
Treatment options:
If conventional treatment options have not brought you enough relief, medical cannabis may be considered as a second-line treatment option to help control some of the symptoms of BPD.
Antidepressants for comorbid depression and anxiety
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) for PTSD comorbidity
Medical cannabis treatment to help control comorbidities
Mentalisation-Based Treatment (MBT)
Mood stabilisers in some cases
Schema Therapy
Sleep medications
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A word from our specialist
“There's still a great deal of misunderstanding around borderline personality disorder, and living with that stigma and societal pressure can be just as difficult as the symptoms the condition can cause.
Many of my patients talk about the strain that the condition can put on their relationships, and how it impacts almost every part of their daily life. That’s why I always take time to listen to each patient individually, offering tailored treatments and management techniques that aim to ease the burden.”
Dr Imran Ali
Consultant Psychiatrist
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Can medical cannabis treatments help with the symptoms of borderline personality disorder?
Potentially, for some patients. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) is a mental health condition that an estimated 1-2% of the UK population live with. It is the most common type of personality disorder, but the severity and symptoms can vary a lot.
Although largely characterised by mood and behaviour instability, and difficulty regulating emotions (which can lead to impulsive actions, fear of abandonment and an intense stress response) BPD also often results in co-occurring conditions which is what medical cannabis can be prescribed for.
These conditions include PTSD, severe anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain, which is highly prevalent in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
What symptoms does borderline personality disorder cause?
BPD features severe (but usually short-lasting) mood swings, intense emotional dysregulation, impulsive behaviours, identity disturbance and self-harm or suicidal behaviour.
A fear of abandonment and rejection is also common.
Unlike other personality disorders, such as Bipolar, BPD episodes are usually triggered by stress and interpersonal conflict, rather than chemical cycles.
What treatments are currently available for borderline personality disorder?
In contrast to what stigma and some media portrayals might have you believe, BPD is highly treatable with specialised therapies like Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). While challenging, most people with BPD live happy, fulfilling lives, and are very able to enjoy stable, loving relationships.
Although there are no medications approved to specifically treat BPD, there are numerous drugs available for the short-termlonger-term management of symptoms, and it is also possible to be prescribed short-term medications such as anti-depressants and benzodiazepines.
Unfortunately, 40% to 60% of patients do not gain total relief from their impairing symptoms with such treatments. Medical cannabis is an alternative treatment that can be used to manage symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia.
While DBT is considered the gold standard psychological therapy for BPD, there are also the options of Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Schema Therapy.
Many people living with BPD find simple lifestyle choices can help a lot too, like implementing a strong self-care routine, including practices like meditation and breathwork, to help with emotional regulation.
Can medical cannabis treatment help with my borderline personality disorder symptoms?
Medical cannabis is not a treatment for the core features of BPD/EUPD (emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, identity disturbance, self-harm), but it can be prescribed to address co-occurring conditions including chronic pain, PTSD, severe anxiety and insomnia. There are a multitude of studies available demonstrating how each of these can be improved with the use of cannabinoids.
Poor sleep quality has been found to exacerbate BPD symptoms like impulsivity and emotional liability, and make it harder for patients to engage with psychological therapy. Cannabis for insomnia and other sleep conditions is one of the most well-researched areas.
One randomised crossover double-blind placebo-controlled 6-week trial published in 2022 found that cannabis improved both time and quality of sleep in 80% of study participants with insomnia.
Are there any risks with THC treatment for patients with BPD?
High THC could potentially present problems for patients with BPD if the dose is too high. This is just one of many reasons why sourcing legal, medical cannabis for Borderline Personality Disorder, rather than trying to self-medicate, is extremely important.
High dose THC carries the risk of worsening or triggering states of anxiety, paranoia and emotional instability and some research suggests people with pre-existing mental health disorders who use high THC cannabis regularly are significantly more vulnerable to cannabis induced psychosis. People with BPD are also at higher risk of developing addiction.
That being said, when used appropriately at a lower dose, THC for Borderline Personality Disorder may offer great therapeutic value for reducing stress, anxiety and pain. Recent data collected from 16,991 Releaf patients found that 69% experienced improved anxiety since using medical cannabis and 70.3% of patients experienced improved depression.
Further to this, 50 patients moved from extreme pain to no pain and 113 patients moved from severe to slight or no pain.
Releaf’s world-class clinical team are highly experienced in prescribing THC for mental health conditions, and will be able to offer expert guidance.
How does medical cannabis fit alongside DBT and other psychological therapies?
Medical cannabis cannot (and should not) replace psychological therapy for BPD, but they can be used alongside each other. While psychological therapy can help address core features of BPD, medical cannabis can be only used to address co-occurring conditions and symptoms.
How does the endocannabinoid system relate to borderline personality disorder?
Many mental health symptoms related to BPD, such as anxiety, PTSD and depression, are strongly influenced by the endocannabinoid system, which is made up of receptors (CB1 and CB2) and endocannabinoids.
CB1 receptors, which THC and endocannabinoids boosted by CBD activates, are located in the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. These play an important role in regulating stress reactivity and panic-like defence responses,which are among BPD patients' characteristics.
The ECS contributes to the regulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis (your body's primary neuroendocrine stress response system), managing reactions to physical and psychological stress, which facilitates behavioural and emotional recovery in BPD.
What does the research say about cannabis and borderline personality disorder?
The overarching consensus from the research into cannabis and borderline personality disorder so far is that cannabinoids such as THC and CBD (and their interaction with the endocannabinoid system) can help to alleviate indirect symptoms of BPD. They can also help to manage stress responses that can trigger emotional dysregulation. But it’s also firmly believed that cannabis (particularly THC) should be used with caution, and under professional medical guidance, especially by patients with mental health conditions.
Am I eligible for UK medical cannabis treatment for borderline personality disorder?
Want to find out if you’re eligible for UK medical cannabis treatment for borderline personality disorder? Head to our fast and free medical cannabis eligibility checker
FAQs on medical cannabis for borderline personality disorder (30 to 60 word answers)
Can medical cannabis treat BPD directly?
No, medical cannabis is not a treatment for the core features of BPD such as mood swings, intense emotional dysregulation, impulsive behaviours, identity disturbance and self-harm or suicidal behaviour. It can only be prescribed for indirect symptoms including anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain.
I have BPD and chronic pain. Can I access medical cannabis for my pain?
Yes, if you have tried at least two, standard treatments or therapies for pain,you may be eligible for a medical cannabis prescription for Borderline Personality Disorder and chronic pain.
Can medical cannabis help with PTSD that often co-occurs with BPD?
Yes, medical cannabis is frequently prescribed by Releaf specialists for the symptoms of PTSD, which can include depression and insomnia. That said, it’s important to recognise that, while medical cannabis can help alleviate symptoms, it cannot cure underlying trauma.
Head to our Patient Story page to read what real patients are saying about their Releaf prescription
Should I tell my psychiatrist or mental health team about my Releaf cannabis prescription?
Yes, it is crucial to tell your psychiatrist or mental health team about your Releaf cannabis prescription so that they can continue to effectively monitor your health and wellbeing alongside your Releaf consultant.