Borderline personality disorder is believed to affect between 2 and 3 percent of the general public, but 11 percent of outpatient clinic patients and up to 20 percent of inpatient psychiatric patients. Borderline personality disorder patients are regular users of mental health programs due to emergency room visits and hospitalizations for suicidal ideation and attempts. Around 8 to 10 percent of those who suffer from this illness commit suicide. The existence of this disorder hampers the management of other conditions such as significant depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, and eating disorders.