Outside of co-occurrence, BPD is also a common misdiagnosis for Autistic & ADHD people (particularly women & genderqueer people). Several ADHD traits (impulsivity, hyperactivity, difficulty regulating emotions) can look like BPD.
Several features of borderline personality disorder overlap with those of ADHD such as a chronic course, emotional instability, impulsivity and risk taking behaviors, and disturbed interpersonal relationships.
ADHD and BPD share some clinical features, particularly impulsivity and emotional instability. These disorders often co-occur. Patients with both diagnoses have more pronounced difficulties which are intertwined and often difficult to treat.
Unstable sense of self, which may involve frequent shifts in goals, values, and career plans. Frequently changing your feelings toward other people. Feeling like you don't exist. Frequent feelings of emptiness or boredom.
In real life, however, people may exhibit some traits of a certain personality type without it being a full-blown disorder. People tend to be on a spectrum of more or less severe symptoms before they come anywhere near a diagnosis.
If a person with borderline personality disorder is prescribed amphetamines to treat ADHD, they may experience more severe symptoms, including: An increase in emotional problems. Increased impulsive behavior. Paranoid thinking.
Consult a licensed neuropsychologist. A neuropsychologist may be able to acquaint you with the tests used to diagnose ADD/ADHD vs. personality disorders. This information could then help you gauge whether an in-depth neuropsychological evaluation will be worth your time.
There is an observed link between childhood ADHD and the development of certain personality disorders. Longitudinal data has shown that children with ADHD are significantly more likely to develop personality disorders later in adolescence than those without the condition.
While people with BPD and people with ADHD may both struggle with impulsiveness, difficulty regulating emotions, and challenges with interpersonal interactions and relationships, these symptoms tend to be more severe in BPD. 4 For example, people with borderline personality disorder are more likely to harm themselves.
Neurodivergence includes Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and Tourette Syndrome, as well as some long-term mental health conditions, such as depression and borderline personality disorder (BPD).
Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is when you experience severe emotional pain because of a failure or feeling rejected. This condition is linked to ADHD and experts suspect it happens due to differences in brain structure.
Misdiagnosed ADHD Symptom: Immaturity
But developmental delays and immaturity aren't always related to ADHD — they can point to autism, anxiety disorders, or even sensory processing issues.
Borderline personality disorder is also called emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD) and emotional intensity disorder (EID).
BPD individuals have more problems using context cues for inhibiting responses and their impulsivity is stress-dependent, whereas ADHD patients have more motor impulsivity and therefore difficulties interrupting ongoing responses.
Things that can indicate an episode is occurring: Intense angry outbursts. Suicidal thoughts and self-harm behavior. Going to great lengths to feel something, then becoming increasingly avoidant and withdrawn.
Antipsychotic drugs like Ritalin, Concerta, and Temoxazole can also be helpful to treat borderline personality disorder symptoms. However, all these medications carry risks and possible complications. You will have to work closely with your doctor to find the best course of drug therapy.
Interestingly, ADHD is often associated with several personality disorders; namely the Cluster B disorders including Antisocial, Narcissistic, Histrionic, and Borderline Personality Disorders. As the name implies, people with ADHD have a difficult time focusing their attention and staying on task.
Some concerns to think about include: Benzodiazepines may worsen symptoms for some individuals. Research suggests that benzodiazepines may worsen the symptoms of impulsivity and suicidality in people with BPD, so their use is discouraged.
People with borderline personality disorder may experience intense mood swings and feel uncertainty about how they see themselves. Their feelings for others can change quickly, and swing from extreme closeness to extreme dislike. These changing feelings can lead to unstable relationships and emotional pain.
Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for individuals with BPD to be misdiagnosed. In fact, studies show that 40% of people with this condition have received a wrong diagnosis at some point in their lifetime.
“This can look like poor self-image and excessive self-criticism, feelings of emptiness and instability in goals, values and opinions.” Individuals living with quiet BPD may have decreased levels of empathy, high conflict relationships, clinginess and fear of abandonment, adds Dr. Lira de la Rosa.