Bipolar Disorder vs. BPD: What Are the Differences?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Close

Borderline personality disorder (BPD)has been controversial since it was first recognized in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” in 1980. One controversy that still has not been resolved is whether or not BPD is related tobipolar disordersince they have many similar symptoms.

Learn more about the differences between bipolar disorder and BPD. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition, talk to a healthcare provider to receive a diagnosis and treatment.

Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Get Help Now

We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

BPD is also associated with mood changes, sometimes called emotional dysregulation or affective instability. People with BPD frequently change from feeling fine to extremely distressed in minutes.

Bipolar DisorderExtreme shifts in moodMood episodes lasting a week or moreRestlessnessRacing thoughtsIncreased energy and activity levelsReduced need for sleepGrandiosityReckless, risky behaviorsImpulsivityPsychosis during severe manic episodesBPDRapid changes in moodMood episodes lasting hours or daysEmotional dysregulationFear of abandonmentUnstable self-imageIntense, unstable relationshipsAnger issuesFeelings of worthlessnessParanoid thinkingImpulsivitySelf-harm or suicidal behaviors

Bipolar DisorderExtreme shifts in moodMood episodes lasting a week or moreRestlessnessRacing thoughtsIncreased energy and activity levelsReduced need for sleepGrandiosityReckless, risky behaviorsImpulsivityPsychosis during severe manic episodes

Extreme shifts in mood

Mood episodes lasting a week or more

Restlessness

Racing thoughts

Increased energy and activity levels

Reduced need for sleep

Grandiosity

Reckless, risky behaviors

Impulsivity

Psychosis during severe manic episodes

BPDRapid changes in moodMood episodes lasting hours or daysEmotional dysregulationFear of abandonmentUnstable self-imageIntense, unstable relationshipsAnger issuesFeelings of worthlessnessParanoid thinkingImpulsivitySelf-harm or suicidal behaviors

Rapid changes in mood

Mood episodes lasting hours or days

Emotional dysregulation

Fear of abandonment

Unstable self-image

Intense, unstable relationships

Anger issues

Feelings of worthlessness

Paranoid thinking

Self-harm or suicidal behaviors

The Truth About BPD

Research suggests that while bipolar disorder and BPD may co-occur, they appear to be separate conditions with different causes.While researchers do not fully understand the exact causes of each condition, it is believed that several factors play a part in increasing a person’s susceptibility to developing each condition.

Bipolar Disorder

The Best Online Trauma Therapy, Tried and Tested

Borderline Personality Disorder

Are Bipolar Disorder and BPD Related?Although it is not yet clear-cut, research has not found a strong relationship between BPD and bipolar disorder. There is some evidence that people with BPD are diagnosed with bipolar disorder at higher rates than individuals with other personality disorders.

Are Bipolar Disorder and BPD Related?

Although it is not yet clear-cut, research has not found a strong relationship between BPD and bipolar disorder. There is some evidence that people with BPD are diagnosed with bipolar disorder at higher rates than individuals with other personality disorders.

When making a diagnosis, healthcare providers will look at several different factors to help distinguish between bipolar disorder and BPD. Some significant components separate the two.

Because bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder are distinct conditions, it is essential to treat each disorder individually for the best chance of symptom relief.

Medication is the primary treatment for bipolar disorder, although psychotherapy can also be helpful. Mood stabilizers can help balance moods and minimize the risk of experiencing extreme highs and extreme lows.

Lithium was the first medication that was developed for the treatment of bipolar disorder. It is still commonly used today as a first-line treatment.

Types of medications that are often prescribed to treat bipolar disorder are antipsychotics and anti-convulsants, which may include:

Looking for a Psychiatrist? Try One of These 9 Best Online Psychiatry Services

BPD was previously regarded as challenging to treat, but more recent evidence indicates that treatments can be very effective.It is most often treated with psychotherapy, but medications may also be prescribed to help manage specific symptoms.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)is a form of psychotherapy that was specifically created to treat borderline personality disorder. This approach is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that teaches people stress management, emotional regulation, and relationship skills.

Other therapies that can also be helpful include CBT, mentalization-based treatment (MBT), and group therapy.Medications sometimes prescribed to treat BPD symptoms include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers.

There is no way to prevent bipolar disorder. However, early detection and treatment can help improve outcomes. Watch for warning signs and learn more about the condition so you can be on the lookout for early symptoms. If you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, some things can help reduce the risk and severity of having mood episodes:

There is no surefire way to prevent borderline personality disorder. Some steps can lead to better outcomes, such as:

Summary

Bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder share some common symptoms, but they are distinct conditions. They do sometimes co-occur, so future research onthe genetic and biological causes of BPDand bipolar disorder may reveal some undiscovered relationships between the two conditions.

The exact causes of the two conditions are not clear, but genetics is strongly linked to bipolar disorder, while trauma is strongly connected to borderline personality disorder. Both conditions have different treatments, so getting an accurate diagnosis is essential.

A Word From Verywell

Bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder can lead to mood instability and impulsivity symptoms. Talk to your doctor if you suspect you have one of these conditions. They can evaluate your condition and refer you to a mental health professional for further assessment, evaluation, and treatment. Early treatment can minimize the effect that symptoms have on different areas of your life and ensure that you can live life to the fullest.

How the DSM-5 Classifies Personality Disorders

12 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gunderson JG, Stout RL, Shea MT, et al.Interactions of borderline personality disorder and mood disorders over 10 years.J Clin Psychiatry. 2014;75(8):829-834. doi:10.4088/JCP.13m08972Gordovez FJA, McMahon FJ.The genetics of bipolar disorder.Mol Psychiatry. 2020;25(3):544-559. doi: 10.1038/s41380-019-0634-7Lee JG, Woo YS, Park SW, Seog DH, Seo MK, Bahk WM.Neuromolecular etiology of bipolar disorder: possible therapeutic targets of mood stabilizers.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2022;20(2):228-239. doi:10.9758/cpn.2022.20.2.228Cattane N, Rossi R, Lanfredi M, Cattaneo A.Borderline personality disorder and childhood trauma: Exploring the affected biological systems and mechanisms.BMC Psychiatry. 2017;17(1):221. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1383-2Krause-Utz A, Frost R, Winter D, Elzinga BM.Dissociation and alterations in brain function and structure: Implications for borderline personality disorder.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2017;19(1):6. doi:10.1007/s11920-017-0757-yAmad A, Ramoz N, Thomas P, Jardri R, Gorwood P.Genetics of borderline personality disorder: systematic review and proposal of an integrative model.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014;40:6-19. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.01.003Patel RS, Manikkara G, Chopra A.Bipolar disorder and comorbid borderline personality disorder: patient characteristics and outcomes in US hospitals.Medicina (Kaunas). 2019;55(1):13. doi:10.3390/medicina55010013Choi-Kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What works in the treatment of borderline personality disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21–30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-zStoffers JM, Völlm BA, Rücker G, Timmer A, Huband N, Lieb K.Psychological therapies for people with borderline personality disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;2012(8):CD005652. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005652.pub2Ripoll LH.Psychopharmacologic treatment of borderline personality disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2013;15(2):213–224.National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.

12 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gunderson JG, Stout RL, Shea MT, et al.Interactions of borderline personality disorder and mood disorders over 10 years.J Clin Psychiatry. 2014;75(8):829-834. doi:10.4088/JCP.13m08972Gordovez FJA, McMahon FJ.The genetics of bipolar disorder.Mol Psychiatry. 2020;25(3):544-559. doi: 10.1038/s41380-019-0634-7Lee JG, Woo YS, Park SW, Seog DH, Seo MK, Bahk WM.Neuromolecular etiology of bipolar disorder: possible therapeutic targets of mood stabilizers.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2022;20(2):228-239. doi:10.9758/cpn.2022.20.2.228Cattane N, Rossi R, Lanfredi M, Cattaneo A.Borderline personality disorder and childhood trauma: Exploring the affected biological systems and mechanisms.BMC Psychiatry. 2017;17(1):221. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1383-2Krause-Utz A, Frost R, Winter D, Elzinga BM.Dissociation and alterations in brain function and structure: Implications for borderline personality disorder.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2017;19(1):6. doi:10.1007/s11920-017-0757-yAmad A, Ramoz N, Thomas P, Jardri R, Gorwood P.Genetics of borderline personality disorder: systematic review and proposal of an integrative model.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014;40:6-19. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.01.003Patel RS, Manikkara G, Chopra A.Bipolar disorder and comorbid borderline personality disorder: patient characteristics and outcomes in US hospitals.Medicina (Kaunas). 2019;55(1):13. doi:10.3390/medicina55010013Choi-Kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What works in the treatment of borderline personality disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21–30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-zStoffers JM, Völlm BA, Rücker G, Timmer A, Huband N, Lieb K.Psychological therapies for people with borderline personality disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;2012(8):CD005652. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005652.pub2Ripoll LH.Psychopharmacologic treatment of borderline personality disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2013;15(2):213–224.National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Gunderson JG, Stout RL, Shea MT, et al.Interactions of borderline personality disorder and mood disorders over 10 years.J Clin Psychiatry. 2014;75(8):829-834. doi:10.4088/JCP.13m08972Gordovez FJA, McMahon FJ.The genetics of bipolar disorder.Mol Psychiatry. 2020;25(3):544-559. doi: 10.1038/s41380-019-0634-7Lee JG, Woo YS, Park SW, Seog DH, Seo MK, Bahk WM.Neuromolecular etiology of bipolar disorder: possible therapeutic targets of mood stabilizers.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2022;20(2):228-239. doi:10.9758/cpn.2022.20.2.228Cattane N, Rossi R, Lanfredi M, Cattaneo A.Borderline personality disorder and childhood trauma: Exploring the affected biological systems and mechanisms.BMC Psychiatry. 2017;17(1):221. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1383-2Krause-Utz A, Frost R, Winter D, Elzinga BM.Dissociation and alterations in brain function and structure: Implications for borderline personality disorder.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2017;19(1):6. doi:10.1007/s11920-017-0757-yAmad A, Ramoz N, Thomas P, Jardri R, Gorwood P.Genetics of borderline personality disorder: systematic review and proposal of an integrative model.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014;40:6-19. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.01.003Patel RS, Manikkara G, Chopra A.Bipolar disorder and comorbid borderline personality disorder: patient characteristics and outcomes in US hospitals.Medicina (Kaunas). 2019;55(1):13. doi:10.3390/medicina55010013Choi-Kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What works in the treatment of borderline personality disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21–30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-zStoffers JM, Völlm BA, Rücker G, Timmer A, Huband N, Lieb K.Psychological therapies for people with borderline personality disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;2012(8):CD005652. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005652.pub2Ripoll LH.Psychopharmacologic treatment of borderline personality disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2013;15(2):213–224.National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.

Gunderson JG, Stout RL, Shea MT, et al.Interactions of borderline personality disorder and mood disorders over 10 years.J Clin Psychiatry. 2014;75(8):829-834. doi:10.4088/JCP.13m08972

Gordovez FJA, McMahon FJ.The genetics of bipolar disorder.Mol Psychiatry. 2020;25(3):544-559. doi: 10.1038/s41380-019-0634-7

Lee JG, Woo YS, Park SW, Seog DH, Seo MK, Bahk WM.Neuromolecular etiology of bipolar disorder: possible therapeutic targets of mood stabilizers.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2022;20(2):228-239. doi:10.9758/cpn.2022.20.2.228

Cattane N, Rossi R, Lanfredi M, Cattaneo A.Borderline personality disorder and childhood trauma: Exploring the affected biological systems and mechanisms.BMC Psychiatry. 2017;17(1):221. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1383-2

Krause-Utz A, Frost R, Winter D, Elzinga BM.Dissociation and alterations in brain function and structure: Implications for borderline personality disorder.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2017;19(1):6. doi:10.1007/s11920-017-0757-y

Amad A, Ramoz N, Thomas P, Jardri R, Gorwood P.Genetics of borderline personality disorder: systematic review and proposal of an integrative model.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014;40:6-19. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.01.003

Patel RS, Manikkara G, Chopra A.Bipolar disorder and comorbid borderline personality disorder: patient characteristics and outcomes in US hospitals.Medicina (Kaunas). 2019;55(1):13. doi:10.3390/medicina55010013

Choi-Kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What works in the treatment of borderline personality disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21–30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-z

Stoffers JM, Völlm BA, Rücker G, Timmer A, Huband N, Lieb K.Psychological therapies for people with borderline personality disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;2012(8):CD005652. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005652.pub2

Ripoll LH.Psychopharmacologic treatment of borderline personality disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2013;15(2):213–224.

National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.

National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?