Exploring the Relationship Between Borderline Personality Disorder, Asperger's Syndrome, and Autism Dear Friends,For the past 20 years, TARA’s national helpline has been collecting data on family experiences with BPD. We realized that many Helpline callers who have BPD or have a family member with BPD may also have a relative with autism or Asperger's Syndrome. They are often unaware that the behaviors they are describing may fit the autism or Asperger’s spectrum. One of our callers is the mother of twins; one with BPD and one with Asperger’s Syndrome. We have received calls from people who meet criteria for both BPD and Asperger's Syndrome.Several characteristics of people with BPD seem to correlate with the characteristics of people with autism spectrum disorder such as difficulty recognizing faces, naming emotions (alexithymia), super sensitivity to sensory stimuli such as light, sound, textures, smells, touch, and difficulty mentalizing others.TARA interacts with leading BPD researchers. We serve as a conduit to raise awareness of childhood experiences, issues, and specific behaviors of people with BPD and their families (e.g. BPD and Pain, C. Schmahl) such as the intense shame experienced by people with BPD. In order to call attention to the relationship of BPD and autism spectrum disorder, we need data to support our observations. We are asking you to please participate in our survey so TARA can collect data that support the study of the possible relationship between autism spectrum disorders and BPD. We hope this will motivate research leading to earlier, more accurate diagnosis and new directions in treatment.Thank you for your participation. Question Title * 1. Name (optional) Question Title * 2. Have you or a family member been diagnosed with any of the following: Self Spouse Child Mother Father Sibling Grandchild Niece/Nephew Maternal Relative Paternal Relative Borderline Personality Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder Self Borderline Personality Disorder Spouse Borderline Personality Disorder Child Borderline Personality Disorder Mother Borderline Personality Disorder Father Borderline Personality Disorder Sibling Borderline Personality Disorder Grandchild Borderline Personality Disorder Niece/Nephew Borderline Personality Disorder Maternal Relative Borderline Personality Disorder Paternal Relative Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Self Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Spouse Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Child Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Mother Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Father Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Sibling Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Grandchild Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Niece/Nephew Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Maternal Relative Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Paternal Relative Asperger's Syndrome Asperger's Syndrome Self Asperger's Syndrome Spouse Asperger's Syndrome Child Asperger's Syndrome Mother Asperger's Syndrome Father Asperger's Syndrome Sibling Asperger's Syndrome Grandchild Asperger's Syndrome Niece/Nephew Asperger's Syndrome Maternal Relative Asperger's Syndrome Paternal Relative Asperger's Traits Asperger's Traits Self Asperger's Traits Spouse Asperger's Traits Child Asperger's Traits Mother Asperger's Traits Father Asperger's Traits Sibling Asperger's Traits Grandchild Asperger's Traits Niece/Nephew Asperger's Traits Maternal Relative Asperger's Traits Paternal Relative Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder Self Autism Spectrum Disorder Spouse Autism Spectrum Disorder Child Autism Spectrum Disorder Mother Autism Spectrum Disorder Father Autism Spectrum Disorder Sibling Autism Spectrum Disorder Grandchild Autism Spectrum Disorder Niece/Nephew Autism Spectrum Disorder Maternal Relative Autism Spectrum Disorder Paternal Relative Autistic Traits Autistic Traits Self Autistic Traits Spouse Autistic Traits Child Autistic Traits Mother Autistic Traits Father Autistic Traits Sibling Autistic Traits Grandchild Autistic Traits Niece/Nephew Autistic Traits Maternal Relative Autistic Traits Paternal Relative Question Title * 3. Have others suggested or have you thought about any of the following: Self Spouse Child Mother Father Sibling Grandchild Niece/Nephew Maternal Relative Paternal Relative Borderline Personality Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder Self Borderline Personality Disorder Spouse Borderline Personality Disorder Child Borderline Personality Disorder Mother Borderline Personality Disorder Father Borderline Personality Disorder Sibling Borderline Personality Disorder Grandchild Borderline Personality Disorder Niece/Nephew Borderline Personality Disorder Maternal Relative Borderline Personality Disorder Paternal Relative Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Self Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Spouse Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Child Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Mother Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Father Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Sibling Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Grandchild Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Niece/Nephew Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Maternal Relative Borderline Personality Disorder Traits Paternal Relative Asperger's Syndrome Asperger's Syndrome Self Asperger's Syndrome Spouse Asperger's Syndrome Child Asperger's Syndrome Mother Asperger's Syndrome Father Asperger's Syndrome Sibling Asperger's Syndrome Grandchild Asperger's Syndrome Niece/Nephew Asperger's Syndrome Maternal Relative Asperger's Syndrome Paternal Relative Asperger's Traits Asperger's Traits Self Asperger's Traits Spouse Asperger's Traits Child Asperger's Traits Mother Asperger's Traits Father Asperger's Traits Sibling Asperger's Traits Grandchild Asperger's Traits Niece/Nephew Asperger's Traits Maternal Relative Asperger's Traits Paternal Relative Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder Self Autism Spectrum Disorder Spouse Autism Spectrum Disorder Child Autism Spectrum Disorder Mother Autism Spectrum Disorder Father Autism Spectrum Disorder Sibling Autism Spectrum Disorder Grandchild Autism Spectrum Disorder Niece/Nephew Autism Spectrum Disorder Maternal Relative Autism Spectrum Disorder Paternal Relative Autistic Traits Autistic Traits Self Autistic Traits Spouse Autistic Traits Child Autistic Traits Mother Autistic Traits Father Autistic Traits Sibling Autistic Traits Grandchild Autistic Traits Niece/Nephew Autistic Traits Maternal Relative Autistic Traits Paternal Relative Question Title * 4. I'm participating in this survey as: (choose only one) A person with BPD A person with a family member/loved one with BPD A person with Asperger's Syndrome A person with a family member/loved one with Asperger's Syndrome A person with autism spectrum disorder A person with a family member/loved one with autism spectrum disorder Next
