Depression, specifically major depressive disorder, is comorbid in 41 to 83 percent of those with BPD. Those with BPD often are misdiagnosed with depression, while BPD goes undetected until much later. BPD is often confused as an affective disorder (depressive or bipolar), but proof is in the treatment.
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.
BPD is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed mental health conditions. It's so misdiagnosed, in fact, that there isn't even an accurate prevalence rate for the condition.
One of the most common misdiagnoses for BPD is bipolar disorder. Both conditions have episodes of mood instability.
Distinguishing Depressive Symptoms and BPD
Depressive symptoms that occur in those with BPD are due to an identifiable stressor (i.e., instance of rejection, perceived abandonment) but depression remits when the stressor is removed or the relationship is restored.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) commonly co-occurs with BPD. Patients with BPD often present with depressive symptoms. It can be difficult to distinguish between BPD and MDD, especially when the two disorders co-occur.
Key points. Depression, specifically major depressive disorder, is comorbid in 41 to 83 percent of those with BPD. Those with BPD often are misdiagnosed with depression, while BPD goes undetected until much later. BPD is often confused as an affective disorder (depressive or bipolar), but proof is in the treatment.
Clinicians can be reluctant to make a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD). One reason is that BPD is a complex syndrome with symptoms that overlap many Axis I disorders. This paper will examine interfaces between BPD and depression, between BPD and bipolar disorder, and between BPD and psychoses.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) can be hard to diagnose because the symptoms of this disorder overlap with many other conditions, such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and even eating disorders.
Borderline personality disorder is a mental health disorder that impacts the way you think and feel about yourself and others, causing problems functioning in everyday life. It includes self-image issues, difficulty managing emotions and behavior, and a pattern of unstable relationships.
It is now clear that DSM-IV-defined BPD is a heterogeneous construct that includes patients on the mood disorder spectrum and the impulsivity spectrum (Siever and Davis, 1991), in contrast to the original speculation that these patients might be near neighbors of patients with schizophrenia or other psychoses.
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.
Teenagers may start showing the symptoms of borderline personality disorder, but to be diagnosed they need to have symptoms that are severe enough to persistently interfere with daily functioning for 1 year or longer.
Some of the most common effects of untreated BPD can include the following: Dysfunctional social relationships. Repeated job losses. Broken marriages.
Surveys have estimated the prevalence of borderline personality disorder to be 1.6% in the general population and 20% in the inpatient psychiatric population.
Key points. Mental health providers can be reluctant to diagnose BPD and other personality disorders due to diagnosis criteria, insurance, and stigma. Not diagnosing BPD, where appropriate, can adversely affect treatment. Traits of BPD can be communicated without formally diagnosing the full personality disorder.
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.
But antisocial personality disorder is one of the most difficult types of personality disorders to treat. A person with antisocial personality disorder may also be reluctant to seek treatment and may only start therapy when ordered to do so by a court.
A licensed mental health professional will use a book called the DSM-5 to help diagnose BPD. Some professionals may ask you to complete specific assessments while others may ask a lot of open-ended questions about you, your family history, and what kind of problems you may want to work on in treatment.
In some situations, therapists won't provide a diagnosis because they don't think it's essential to the recovery process. Many professionals believe that labels can cause clients to concentrate on the wrong aspects of their mental health condition.
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.
A number of research studies have demonstrated that certain types of antidepressants are effective in treating specific symptoms of BPD. For example, SSRIs can reduce emotional instability, impulsivity, self-harm behaviors, and anger. MAOIs have also been shown to effectively treat emotional instability.
In fact, many antidepressants can cause mood swings as a side effect, which can amplify the flurry of emotions that you are already feeling due to BPD, highlighting the necessity of proper diagnosis and receiving the appropriate antidepressant medication.
Sometimes these episodes come out of nowhere, with no obvious reason why you feel one way or the other. While mania and depression can last for weeks or months, people with BPD might experience extreme ups and downs within a single day.