What is BPD most commonly misdiagnosed as?

In particular, there is evidence that BPD is commonly misdiagnosed as Bipolar Disorder, Type 2. One study showed that 40% of people who met criteria for BPD but not for bipolar disorder were nevertheless misdiagnosed with Bipolar Type 2.

What is the most common misdiagnosis for BPD?

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

How common is misdiagnosis of BPD?

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.

What other disorders overlap with BPD?

BPD typically coexists with depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Symptoms of these conditions may lead the clinician to miss the diagnosis of personality disorder entirely.

Why is borderline personality disorder often misdiagnosed?

Many mental health professionals do not have a lot exposure or education on BPD, so it's easy for BPD to be misdiagnosed as something else such as bipolar disorder since both disorders involve shifting moods and periods of depression.

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

What is the hardest mental disorder to treat?

Personality disorders are some of the most difficult disorders to treat in psychiatry. This is mainly because people with personality disorders don't think their behavior is problematic, so they don't often seek treatment.

How do you rule out borderline personality disorder?

What can mimic borderline personality disorder?

Is BPD on the psychotic spectrum?

With the introduction of the DSM-III,⁶ BPD was separated from a schizotypal personality disorder (which was then considered a psychotic disorder), and BPD criteria entered the psychiatric classification system. However, psychotic symptoms were, despite their presence, not included.

What is BPD more common than?

Myth: BPD Is a Rare Condition

BPD is not a rare condition. Many people have heard of schizophrenia, which occurs in more than 2 million people in the United States alone. BPD is more common than not only schizophrenia but bipolar disorder as well.

What can undiagnosed BPD lead to?

Some of the most common effects of untreated BPD can include the following: Dysfunctional social relationships. Repeated job losses. Broken marriages.

What is the differential diagnosis for borderline personality disorder?

Differential diagnosis is particularly relevant for distinguishing BPD from bipolar spectrum disorders, requiring a careful evaluation of affective instability and hypomania. BPD may also be confused with major depression, schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Is ADHD commonly misdiagnosed as BPD?

ADHD and BPD share many symptoms, which demand a challenging differential diagnosis. Because ADHD was rarely diagnosed in inattentive women until relatively recently, many lived with a misdiagnosis of BPD.

Can anxiety be mistaken for BPD?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) consists of an over-reactive and/or unstable mood that could be mistaken with mood swings and affective instability of bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder.

How do I know if I have BPD or something else?

Can Trauma be mistaken for BPD?

Making a correct diagnosis for BPD or PTSD

BPD can sometimes be mistaken for PTSD or C-PTSD, and vice-versa. C-PTSD is a subset of PTSD which is associated with long-term or chronic exposure to trauma – much like BPD. Both can cause emotional distress, mood swings, flashbacks, anxiety and anger.

What triggers BPD onset?

Environmental factors

being a victim of emotional, physical or sexual abuse. being exposed to long-term fear or distress as a child. being neglected by 1 or both parents. growing up with another family member who had a serious mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder or a drink or drug misuse problem.

Does BPD have manic phases?

Although people with BPD often cycle through their emotions more quickly than people with bipolar disorder, it is possible for someone to experience a very short manic or depressive episode.

Do they put you on antipsychotics for BPD?

Antipsychotics are widely used in BPD, as they are believed to be effective in improving impulsivity, aggression, anxiety and psychotic symptoms [Nose et al. 2006; American Psychiatric Association, 2001]. Evidence supports their use in the treatment of cognitive-perceptual symptoms [Herpertz et al.

What does untreated borderline personality disorder look like?

If left untreated, the person suffering from BPD may find themselves involved with extravagant spending, substance abuse, binge eating, reckless driving, and indiscriminate sex, Hooper says. The reckless behavior is usually linked to the poor self-image many BPD patients struggle with.

What is the best mood stabilizer for borderline personality disorder?

What are the best jobs for people with BPD?

Many people with BPD feel emotions deeply and find working in a caring role fulfilling. If you are an empathetic person, consider jobs such as teaching, childcare, nursing and animal care.

What are the deadliest mental illnesses?

If you think depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder are the mental illnesses most commonly linked to an early death, you're wrong. Eating disorders—including anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating— are the most lethal mental health conditions, according to research in Current Psychiatry Reports.

What is the most undiagnosed mental illness?

What is the easiest mental illness to treat?

Anxiety disorder is the most treatable of all mental illnesses. Anxiety disorder produces unrealistic fears, excessive worry, flashbacks from past trauma leading to easy startling, changes in sleep patterns, intense tension and ritualistic behavior.