9 Famous People With BPD

Learn About Borderline Personality Disorder from Celebrities with BPD

To put it bluntly, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health condition. And when a well-known, public-facing person opens up about their own struggles, it can help those going through similar challenges shed the stigma and express themselves, too.

Witnessing famous people navigate public struggles with mental illness can increase mental health awareness. Seeing public figures seek treatment may also make it less daunting to find support for yourself.

Catalina Behavioral Health treats BPD and other mental disorders. As a top-rated mental health and addiction treatment center in Arizona, we are here to help you or your loved one with BPD heal. So, what should you know?

First, let’s talk about seven famous people with BPD. Then, we’ll go over common signs of BPD and how treatment can help.

9 Famous People With Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Here are nine famous people with a BPD diagnosis.

American Actor and Comedian Pete Davidson

Seen on Saturday Night Live, Pete Davidson is one of the most well-known individuals with BPD. He was diagnosed with BPD at age 23 after a long history of unexplained symptoms.

The actor and comedian, seen on Saturday Night Live, has also been open about trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and drug use.

NFL Receiver Brandon Marshall

Brandon Marshall is an American former professional football player. Diagnosed with BPD in 2011, he was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. Since getting diagnosed with and receiving treatment for BPD, Marshall has become an advocate for mental health awareness.

Singer Nessa Barrett

Singer Nessa Barrett has been open about living with BPD. She has talked about mental health extensively, raising awareness not just for BPD but for eating disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Comedian Doug Ferrari

Comedian Doug Ferrari has been open about his BPD diagnosis for what is now over two decades. After enduring extensive mental health battles, which involved substance abuse and a period of homelessness, he was able to get sober and start doing regular comedy shows again.

Actress Madison Bailey

Actress Madison Bailey is most known for her role in the television drama series Outer Banks. Bailey was diagnosed with BPD at a young age. The now 25-year-old actress has since discussed the condition on platforms such as Entertainment Tonight.

Actress Julia Fox

Julia Fox was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder as a teenager. Consistent with many people who have BPD, she has also faced substance abuse, surviving a drug overdose at age 17.

Singer-Songwriter Janet Devlin

Janet Devlin is an Irish singer-songwriter. Known for her rise to fame on the show X Factor in 2011, Devlin has spoken up about her experience with borderline personality disorder, substance abuse, and bipolar disorder on her YouTube channel.

Author and Advocate Courtney Cook

Courtney Cook wrote “The Way She Feels: My Life on the Borderline in Pictures + Pieces.” The graphic novel portrays her experiences with BPD. Cook has spoken at events hosted by organizations like McLean Hospital, The Josselyn Center, and the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Emotions Matter.

Author Stacy Pershall

Author Stacy Pershall released the book “Loud in the House of Myself” in 2010. The book details her experience with BPD, eating disorders, self-harm, and recovery. Today, Perhsall is a speaker, teacher, and student.

The Common Symptoms of BPD for Most People

Characterized by intense emotions, mood swings, and unstable relationships, borderline personality disorder can cause a great deal of emotional pain.

Developing a greater understanding of BPD can help you understand yourself better and pursue treatment.

Common symptoms of BPD include:

• Impulsive behaviors (e.g., reckless driving, unsafe sex, gambling, binge eating, excessive spending or shopping sprees, and substance use).
• Fleeting paranoid thoughts, feeling “unreal,” or feeling detached from the world.
• Patterns of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships.
• Extreme efforts to avoid real or perceived abandonment.
• Distorted self-image or sense of self.
• Chronic feelings of emptiness.
• Temporary paranoid thoughts.
• Recurrent suicidal behavior.
• Intense, inappropriate anger.
• Rapid mood swings.

BPD recovery is possible. Many people who seek help for BPD reach a point where they no longer meet the criteria for the disorder.

Getting a BPD Diagnosis

Borderline personality disorder is diagnosed using the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). During the diagnostic process, a provider will discuss your personal history with you in depth. They may ask questions like:

• What are your current symptoms?
• How long have you experienced them for?
• Have you been through any traumatic events?

Catalina Behavioral Health provides comprehensive intake assessments for incoming clients. Whether you do or do not have an official diagnosis yet, the Catalina Behavioral Health team can help you start your healing journey now.

The Difficulties of Diagnosing BPD and Potential for Misdiagnosis

Since BPD symptoms can overlap with those of other mental health issues, providers diagnosing the condition must work to rule out other causes. An accurate diagnosis helps you get proper treatment. This matters because BPD is often misdiagnosed at first.

For example, it’s not uncommon that people who actually have BPD first get diagnosed with another condition, like bipolar disorder. BPD can also co-occur with other mental health struggles, making it more challenging to detect the condition at times.

What Treatments Work for BPD Symptoms?

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is one of the most popular treatments for BPD. In research, DBT has been shown to reduce the severity of BPD symptoms, such as thoughts of suicide or suicidal ideation and self-harm. Alongside other goals, DBT teaches skills you can use to regulate emotions and navigate personal relationships.

Other treatments can be helpful, too. For example:

• Mentalization-based treatment.
• Transference-focused psychotherapy.
• Schema therapy.

At Catalina Behavioral Health, we use a highly individualized and combined approach. Multiple treatments, including DBT, are used. Additionally, every client who enters our doors gets a personalized treatment plan. If you’re someone with more than one mental health condition (e.g., BPD and major depressive disorder), we will address both.

Inpatient Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder

Our inpatient mental health treatment program usually lasts for around 30-60 days. Residential inpatient treatment for borderline personality disorder is highly structured. You can expect to participate in a full daily schedule of group therapy, individual therapy, and other activities.

Therapy sessions promote in-depth healing work, whereas other activities, such as recreation and outings, facilitate enjoyment and the development of life skills.

Outpatient Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder

Catalina Behavioral Health offers several levels of outpatient care for BPD and other mental health issues. These include our partial hospitalization program (PHP) and intensive outpatient program (IOP).

In some cases, outpatient programs for BPD can be an alternative to inpatient treatment. In others, they are recommended as a transitional step following an inpatient program.

Call Catalina for Comprehensive BPD Treatment in Tucson, AZ

Public figures have the distinct ability to spread awareness about mental health concerns like BPD on a large scale–and, more importantly, why seeking help matters. This is crucial, as mental health disorders can feel isolating for the person experiencing them.

Catalina Behavioral Health is an accredited treatment center in Tucson, AZ. Our team of experts is here to ensure that you receive the compassionate, understanding care you deserve.

To learn more about our programs, call our caring team at Catalina today. All calls are confidential, so when you get in touch, we can verify your insurance coverage for treatment, answer your questions, or begin the admissions process.

FAQs About Famous People With Borderline Personality Disorder

How common is BPD?

Statistics vary. It’s estimated that about 1.4% of the United States adult population has BPD.

What causes BPD?

Most people with BPD have had traumatic life experiences, leading to the development of the disorder. Treating underlying trauma, when applicable, is crucial. Genetics and differences in brain structure or functioning also influence your risk.

Did Lady Diana have BPD?

Lady Diana was never diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. That said, many people speculate that she may have met the criteria for the condition.

What does high functioning BPD look like?

Also called quiet BPD, people with high-functioning BPD tend to internalize their symptoms. Since symptoms are directed inward, they’re often less noticeable to others. Having high-functioning BPD does not mean that you don’t need help.

Did Amy Winehouse have BPD?

Amy Winehouse was not officially diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. However, her struggles with substance abuse and bulimia are well-known.

Can other mental disorders go with BPD?

Yes. In fact, it’s very common for people with BPD to have one or more additional mental health disorders. For example:

• Eating disorders.
• Substance abuse.
• Mood disorders.
• PTSD.
• Anxiety disorders.

When this is the case, getting treatment for both is ideal. At Catalina Behavioral Health, we provide co-occurring disorder treatment for people with more than one mental health concern.

References

1. https://www.psychiatry.org/News-room/APA-Blogs/What-is-Borderline-Personality-Disorder
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK55415/
3. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/04-05/treating-borderline-personality
4. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6007584/
5. https://www.nami.org/advocate/why-borderline-personality-disorder-is-misdiagnosed/
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430883/
7. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Borderline-Personality-Disorder/