The 7 differences between Bipolar Disorder and BPD

The emotional element is one of the most important for human beings, since it allows us to assess the implication for us of what happens around us and motivates various types of behavior.

Joy moves us to action and the repetition of behaviors that have generated it, just like pleasure. Sadness leads us to avoid repeating situations. Fear causes us to avoid stimuli. Love and hate lead us to approach or move away from beings, stimuli or situations. Emotions are not immutable And they change based on events. However, there are different disorders in which those who suffer from it suffer rapid changes in emotionality that they cannot control and that sooner or later make them suffer.

Perhaps the first that comes to mind is Bipolar Disorder, but there are also others as well known as Borderline Personality Disorder. These disorders have symptoms that in some ways make them very similar, and sometimes they can even be confused. That is why in this article we are going to analyze the differences between Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder.

• You may be interested in: "The 6 differences between sadness and depression"

bipolar disorder

Bipolar Disorder is, together with depression, one of the mood disorders, characterized by presence of one or more manic or hypomanic episodes, which may precede or follow an episode depressant.

In manic episodes appears an expansive and euphoric mood, being frequent that inflated self-esteem and feelings of grandiosity appear. Other symptoms that may and/or should be present are increased energy level, decreased sleep, distractibility, non-assessment of risks and the issuance of high-risk behaviors and flight of ideas.

In certain severe cases, they may also appear hallucinations and delusions, verbiage, and irritability/hostility. Symptoms usually last at least a week. Hypomanic episodes are similar but with much less intensity and duration (at least four days), and there are no alterations such as delusions.

Regarding depressive episodes, a sad mood is experienced for at least two weeks together with anhedonia and apathy, often losing motivation or the ability to feel pleasure. It is also common for hopelessness and passivity to appear, suicidal thoughts and sleeping and eating problems.

There are two types of Bipolar Disorder, type 1 and type 2. In the first, it is essential that at least one manic or mixed episode has appeared, which may or may not be followed or preceded by a depressive episode. The second refers to people who experience one or more depressive episodes along with at least one hypomanic episode.

• Related article: "Bipolar Disorder: 10 characteristics and curiosities that you did not know"

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

As regards Limit or Borderline Personality Disorder, it is a personality disorder characterized by a pattern of behavior in which affective, emotional and relational instability prevails, together with a high level of impulsiveness, which begins in the period of adolescence as a result of the interaction between biological aspects and the experiences and learning carried out by the subject.

Among the most characteristic symptoms we find low self-esteem, ongoing feelings of emptiness and worthlessness, high reactivity to events and interactions, extreme experience of emotions and idealization or devaluation of others in very categorical terms.

It also highlights the presence of an atrocious panic to be abandoned, making frequent efforts to avoid it (although this is not real). Suicidal thoughts (and in many cases attempts to carry them out) or self-injurious acts are also frequent. may appear dissociation-related disorders, as the depersonalization or derealization. In certain contexts they can be criticized for being irritable, it is speculated that due to a relative difficulty in recognizing and expressing their emotions, although little is still known about it.

• You may be interested in: "Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): causes, symptoms and treatment"

Characteristics in which they are similar

Based on the previous descriptions and diagnostic criteria, we can find that Bipolar and borderline disorder have some similarities obvious. People with both disorders manifest symptoms such as high impulsivity, irritability, and a superficial pattern of relationships (at least at times). The most important coincidence is the high emotional lability, changing rapidly from one emotional state to another.

In addition to the above, we are facing two of the disorders that have been most linked to the making and/or consummation of suicide attempts, being the Bipolar Disorder one of the most frequently linked (along with depression and addictions) and being Borderline Disorder Personality the personality disorder that has been most linked to suicide.

Finally, we can find subjects who present both diagnoses, Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder. Although this is clearly indicating that they are not considered the same, the truth is that many of the symptoms are very similar.

• You may be interested in: "The 10 types of Personality Disorders"

Differences between Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder

The above points in common may lead one to think that both disorders are very similar and could even be confused in some cases. But despite the fact that Bipolar Disorder and borderline disorder have points in common and part of their symptomatology coincides, we are still faced with diagnostic entities with various differences from each other. Among the most significant differences we find the following.

1. Presence or absence of euphoria

Both in Bipolar Disorder and in borderline disorder we find rapid changes in very intense emotions. However, while in Bipolar Disorder there are one or more manic or hypomanic episodes that are linked to a of expansive and euphoric mood, in borderline disorder a depressive-type affective tonality persists, not appearing euphoria.

2. Change stability

Although the changes in mood can be very rapid in Borderline or Borderline Personality Disorder, in the case of Bipolar Disorder it can be much more stable and long-lasting. For example, someone with borderline disorder may have constant mood swings throughout a day, or even within an hour or a few. The subject with Bipolar Disorder presents sudden changes, but in the form of episodes that usually last longer.

Despite this, it must be taken into account that those people with Bipolar Disorder called rapid cyclers (with at least four changes in emotional polarity in a year) may present greater than average lability, although generally it will not be as marked as in the case of borderline disorder.

On the other hand, the level of impulsivity is stable and constant in patients with borderline disorder, while in Bipolar Disorder it appears only in the manic phase.

• Related article: "Emotional lability: what is it and what are its symptoms?"

3. Reason for mood change

Another difference can be found in what exactly triggers the change, while in Bipolar Disorder we find that it is considered that These changes are due to alterations and dysregulation of brain neurotransmitters, those of borderline disorder are often located in the abroad, in psychosocial stress, interpersonal relationships and the experiences that those who suffer from it have. That is, someone with Bipolar Disorder may not be aware of exactly what has caused their changes, while the borderline may associate it with a much more specific discussion or discomfort.

4. Presence of asymptomatic periods

Borderline personality disorder, as the personality disorder that it is (thus being its characteristics integrated in the way of being of the subject), remains consistent throughout the time. That is, there are no asymptomatic periods per se. On the other hand, in Bipolar Disorder we find that between episodes there may be symptom-free periods more or less prolonged, although it is not uncommon for subclinical symptoms to persist on occasion. And although it is not the most common, the episodes may not even be repeated.

5. self esteem level

Although the experience of both disorders in the long run usually entails a decrease in self-esteem and self-concept, in Bipolar Disorder this will vary greatly depending on the type of episode the patient is having. subject.

In the manic phase, an expansive state of mind usually appears in which feelings of grandiosity stand out, being the self-esteem very enlarged. In depressive phases, the state of mind and self-assessment of themselves is usually very diminished. In asymptomatic periods, this part of the self-concept may be at normative levels, although it may also be altered.

When it comes to Borderline Personality Disorder, as a general rule, those who suffer from it tend to have a very low opinion of themselves, often feeling powerless and worthless. In a vast majority of patients, the prevailing sensation is feeling empty and panicking about being abandoned.

6. relationship with others

We have seen previously that in both disorders there can be the presence of superficial, shallow or unstable relationships. However, we can also observe differences.

The subject with Borderline Personality Disorder usually has feelings of emptiness, of having little value and extreme panic at being abandoned. It is common for them to establish dependency relationships, needing to be understood, loved and valued. Also that they fight constantly, that they idealize others or devalue them.

However, the subject with bipolar disorder is linked to others in a normative way when he is in an asymptomatic phase, appearing superficiality especially in the manic phases, but there is usually no emotional dependence of others (although it can occur in depressive phases).

7. Treatment

Despite being a severe personality disorder, those with borderline personality disorder tend to greatly benefit from psychotherapy and various psychological techniques (many specifically geared towards this disorder). The treatment of Bipolar Disorder, on the other hand, is usually more complicated. and being much more focused on pharmacology, although different therapies have been generated such as interpersonal and social rhythms or different applications of cognitive behavioral therapy.