How is borderline personality disorder diagnosed? If you or someone close to you has symptoms that you think may be due to BPD, see your GP (general practitioner). Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and how they impact your life, as well as about your health in general.
A licensed mental health professional can diagnose someone with borderline personality disorder (BPD). In many smaller or rural communities, a family doctor or family physician may also be in a position to diagnose borderline personality disorder.
Only a psychiatrist can make a formal diagnosis. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in mental health. If your GP thinks you're living with BPD, they should receive to what are known as secondary mental health services in the NHS. This is you can see a psychiatrist for an assessment.
If your doctor suspects BPD, they may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for diagnosis and treatment – this may be through your local public mental health service. There are no specific tests that can help confirm the diagnosis of BPD.
If you're wondering whether or not you have BPD, contact a mental health professional to schedule an appointment for an assessment.
Borderline Personality Disorder and Stigma
Because of the stigma associated with this disorder, medical professionals can be reluctant to diagnose a patient with BPD or may even refuse to use this diagnosis even when all the signs and symptoms are clearly present.
Borderline personality disorder can be a difficult diagnosis because of similarities to other conditions, particularly mood disorders.
BPD can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to other mental illnesses, such as depression, psychosis and bipolar disorder. Depending on your situation, one session may not be long enough to decide which diagnosis best fits your symptoms. You may be also be offered different treatments.
Personality disorders are chronic (long-term) dysfunctional behavior patterns that are inflexible, prevalent and lead to social issues and distress. Many people who live with borderline personality disorder don't know they have it and may not realize there's a healthier way to behave and relate to others.
During your appointment: State your concerns plainly. It's important to tell your doctor all of your symptoms. But before you get into that, tell them what you think may be wrong.
Identifying Episodes
Intense angry outbursts. Suicidal thoughts and self-harm behavior. Going to great lengths to feel something, then becoming increasingly avoidant and withdrawn. Paranoia, feeling as if there is someone out to get you.
A licensed mental health professional experienced in diagnosing and treating mental disorders—such as a Psychologist, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)—can diagnose BPD based on a thorough interview and a comprehensive psychological ...
Fear of Patients Lashing Out. Individuals with symptoms of BPD are particularly sensitive to perceived criticism. This increases the likelihood that they will feel attacked when a therapist attempts to offer suggestions or insights. This often leads to lashing out.
Hospitalizations Due to Self-Harm
Many people with BPD harm themselves, such as by cutting, to try to deal with their overwhelming feelings. (1) Some may even attempt to take their own lives. Often, this kind of behavior serves as a wake-up call for the person suffering.
Shifting Self-Image
A person with borderline personality disorder is often unable to trust their own feelings or reactions. Lacking a strong sense of self leads to a sense of emptiness and sometimes a sense of being non-existent, which is another reason BPD hurts so much.
Borderline personality disorder often occurs with other mental illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These co-occurring disorders can make it harder to diagnose and treat borderline personality disorder, especially if symptoms of other illnesses overlap with symptoms of the disorder.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one of the most damaging mental illnesses. By itself, this severe mental illness accounts for up to 10 percent of patients in psychiatric care and 20 percent of those who have to be hospitalized.
BPD is a complex and contentious diagnosis [19], partly because evidence is yet to determine the exact cause of the condition. However, the trajectory is likely to be linked to genetic and environmental factors including emotional vulnerability, childhood abuse [20, 21], and insecure attachment.
Common anticonvulsants and mood stabilizers for BPD include: Depakote (valproate) Lamictal (lamotrigine) Lithobid (lithium)
Zyprexa (olanzapine): This drug improves mood swings, impulsivity, aggression, interpersonal sensitivity, and severity of BPD.
While primary care doctors may use screening tools for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), such as the McLean Screening Instrument for BPD (MSI-BPD) , the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire 4th edition—BPD Scale, and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders -Patient Questionnaire— ...