The Difference Between Bipolar and BPD
Posted by Administrator in Mental Health.Trying to distinguish between Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder is difficult, because these two disorders share so many characteristics. The treatments for both conditions are similar, as well. Some of the specific symptoms found in Bipolar Disorder are also found in patients with Borderline Personality Disorder. Mood instability is common to both disorders. However, although impulsivity is associated with both disorders, it is only associated with bipolar manic episodes and not with bipolar depressive episodes; whereas it is a general symptom of Borderline Personality Disorder.
Self-injury (self-harm) is a prominent characteristic of Borderline Personality Disorder and is also a symptom of Bipolar Disorder, although harming oneself is diagnostic of Bipolar Disorder only in the sense of a possible suicide attempt or as an aspect of bipolar depression.
There is one symptom that differentiates the two disorders – people with Borderline Personality Disorder have a profound fear of abandonment, which is not a symptom of Bipolar Disorder.
The greatest difference between Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder is in the effectiveness of treatment; i.e., in treatment approaches. Although psychotherapy is suggested as part of the treatment approach for patients with Bipolar Disorder, the most effective treatment is in the form of medications – specifically, mood stabilizers and antidepressants. Antidepressants are also effective in treating patients with Borderline Personality Disorder, but because their disorder is more deeply rooted in their emotions, psychotherapy is the more effective approach. Read more