What is commonly misdiagnosed as BPD?

One of the most common misdiagnoses for BPD is bipolar disorder. Both conditions have episodes of mood instability.


What can BPD be mistaken for?

The symptoms of BPD are very broad, and some can be similar to or overlap with other mental health problems, such as:
  • Bipolar disorder.
  • Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD)
  • Depression.
  • Anxiety.
  • Psychosis.
  • Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)


What is the most commonly misdiagnosed mental disorder?

“BPD is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed mental health conditions,” according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.


How often are people with BPD misdiagnosed?

One study cited that almost 40% of people who were diagnosed with BPD were provided with a misdiagnosis of BD at some point in their lifetime in comparison to only 10% of people in the general population receiving a misdiagnosis of BD. The exact reasoning for this high rate of misdiagnosis is debated among researchers.

Is BPD overdiagnosed?

As paradoxical as it seems, BPD is not only sometimes under-diagnosed, but it may at times also be over-diagnosed. Instead of thoughtfully considering symptom presentation, differential diagnosis and criteria, BPD may be incorrectly tagged onto certain stigmatized patients who may not even have the condition at all.


What It's Like When BPD Is Misdiagnosed as Bipolar Disorder



Why do therapists refuse to treat BPD?

Additionally, relationship instability is a feature of BPD, and clinicians may be wary of patients with whom establishing a therapeutic bond could be difficult. They may also hold the mistaken belief that treatment is ineffective for BPD patients.

How do you prove BPD?

To be diagnosed with BPD, you must display at least five of the following symptoms:
  1. viewing relationships in extremes (e.g., everything is either all good or all bad)
  2. challenges controlling anger.
  3. frequent mood changes (i.e., periods of intense anger, depression, or anxiety)
  4. recurrent suicidal ideation.


Can you have BPD and seem normal?

Some people with quiet BPD may feel as though they do not deserve help because their problems are “not that bad.” Perhaps you appear to be functioning in most areas of your life, and to all outward appearances things mostly seem to be fine.


Can you have a mild form of borderline personality disorder?

Quiet borderline personality disorder, or quiet BPD, is a classification some psychologists use to describe a subtype of borderline personality disorder (BPD). While many symptoms of BPD can manifest outward (such as aggression toward others), individuals with quiet BPD may direct symptoms like aggression inward.

What does dissociation look like in BPD?

With regard to the dissociative experiences endorsed, almost all patients reported identity confusion, unexplained mood changes, and depersonalization. Even those BPD patients with mild DD reported derealization, depersonalization, and dissociative amnesia.

What is the second most diagnosed mental disorder?

The most common are anxiety disorders major depression and bipolar disorder.


How do you tell if you've been misdiagnosed?

Even more important, you should recognize these five signs that may indicate you received a misdiagnosis.
  1. Your Symptoms Overlap with Multiple Conditions. ...
  2. Your Doctor Didn't Get All Information. ...
  3. You Didn't Receive Proper Testing. ...
  4. Your Second Opinion Doesn't Match the Diagnosis. ...
  5. Your Treatment Is Ineffective.


What can mimic psychiatric disorders?

5 medical conditions that mimic psychiatric disorders
  • Key takeaways.
  • Delirium.
  • Dementias.
  • Epilepsy.
  • Traumatic brain injury.
  • Infections.
  • Sources.


How do doctors know if you have BPD?

Personality disorders, including borderline personality disorder, are diagnosed based on a: Detailed interview with your doctor or mental health provider. Psychological evaluation that may include completing questionnaires. Medical history and exam.


When does BPD become evident?

According to the DSM-5, BPD can be diagnosed as early as at 12 years old if symptoms persist for at least one year. However, most diagnoses are made during late adolescence or early adulthood.

What other mental disorders come with BPD?

In addition, you may have other mental health disorders, such as:
  • Depression.
  • Alcohol or other substance misuse.
  • Anxiety disorders.
  • Eating disorders.
  • Bipolar disorder.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Other personality disorders.


What sets off a borderline?

Separations, disagreements, and rejections—real or perceived—are the most common triggers for symptoms. A person with BPD is highly sensitive to abandonment and being alone, which brings about intense feelings of anger, fear, suicidal thoughts and self-harm, and very impulsive decisions.


What meds help borderline personality disorder?

What medication is usually prescribed for borderline personality disorder?
  • Abilify (aripiprazole)
  • Carbatrol (carbamazepine ER)
  • Fluvoxamine maleate.
  • Haloperidol.
  • Lamictal (lamotrigine)
  • Zyprexa (olanzapine)
  • Topamax (topiramate)


What is borderline personality now called?

Explains borderline personality disorder (BPD), also known as emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD). Includes what it feels like, causes, treatment, support and self-care, as well as tips for friends and family.

What are some rarely known signs for BPD?

Uncommon BPD Symptoms
  • Have food habits that strongly resemble those found in a person with bulimia or anorexia.
  • Experience mood alterations that closely mimic major depression or less severe forms of depression.
  • Experience the potentially extreme manic episodes found in people with bipolar disorder.


What is quiet borderline personality disorder?

Having quiet borderline personality disorder (BPD) — aka “high-functioning” BPD — means that you often direct thoughts and feelings inward rather than outward. As a result, you may experience the intense, turbulent thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that characterize BPD, but you try to hide them from others.

Do I have hidden BPD?

If you have Quiet BPD, you "act in." You experience the entire gamut of emotions — fear of rejection, mood swings, rage, obsessive emotional attachment, self-doubt, anxiety, etc. However, you do not show your inner turmoil on the outside. Instead of lashing out, you direct the anger, hate, and blame toward yourself.

How do psychiatrists test for BPD?

There's no specific test for BPD, but a healthcare provider can determine a diagnosis with a comprehensive psychiatric interview and medical exam. After that, you can get appropriate treatment and begin to manage your symptoms better and move forward in your life.


Why do borderlines test you?

Many with BPD unconsciously link feeling cared for, to having their expectations met and to having people intuit their needs. Testing is a way of seeing whether those criteria have been met, and therefore ultimately, it is a way of finding out whether one is cared for.

Is there a genetic marker for BPD?

Borderline Personality Disorder and Genetics

Current research supports the theory that there is a large genetic component to whether a person develops BPD. Two genes—DPYD and PKP4—have been identified as increasing a person's risk of developing BPD.