Evaluating the Potential of a Sleep Intervention Among Youth at High-Risk for BPD

Each month The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation hosts a Meet the Scientist Webinar featuring a researcher discussing the latest findings related to mental illness. In November, 2025, the Foundation featured Dr. Erin A. Kaufman of the University of the University of Utah. Description: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is typically a long-lasting and impairing mental disorder marked by significant interpersonal problems, severe emotion dysregulation, and impulsivity. Approximately 69% to 80% of persons with this condition engage in self-injurious behavior, and as many as 9% die by suicide. For many, BPD first emerges in adolescence. Although effective treatments are available, these are typically expensive, lengthy, and require a high degree of commitment from both therapists and clients. Identifying ways that we can optimize BPD treatment and prevention is an important public health priority. One area for further research is the relationship between sleep and BPD. Disrupted sleep is closely linked to key BPD features, and, previous research has found a range of sleep problems among people with BPD. Dr. Kaufman will present preliminary results from an ongoing clinical trial examining the relation between sleep quality and BPD symptoms in daily life, as well as the effects of a single-session sleep intervention. Learn more at https://bbrfoundation.org/event/evalu... Visit us on the web: https://www.bbrfoundation.org If you like this presentation, please share it!