Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsProfessional Screenings for BPDLabs and Tests for BPDSelf/At-Home Testing for BPDIs it Difficult to Get a Diagnosis of BPD?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Professional Screenings for BPD
Labs and Tests for BPD
Self/At-Home Testing for BPD
Is it Difficult to Get a Diagnosis of BPD?
If you suspect you or someone you love might haveborderline personality disorder (BPD), a helpful first step is to learn about the process of receiving a borderline personality disorder diagnosis.
Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental health condition that makes it difficult to regulate emotions, resulting in unstable moods, behaviors, and relationships, per the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
While overviews ofBPD symptomsare widely available online, the only person who can diagnose borderline personality disorder is a licensed mental health professional.
There’s no specific test for BPD, but a healthcare provider can determine a diagnosis with a comprehensive psychiatric interview and medical exam. After that, you canget appropriate treatmentbegin to manage your symptoms better, and move forward in your life.
In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about what a screening for BPD typically entails, the criteria for a borderline personality disorder diagnosis, and more.
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A complete assessment for BPD includes:
Screening Tools for BPD
Several questionnaires have been developed to help mental health practitioners screen patients for borderline personality disorder. Common assessments include:
A 2017 study comparing versions of the MSI, SCID, and PDQ tests found them equally effective in predicting a diagnosis of BPD.
It is important to note, however, that these tests are not used to make a clinical diagnosis of BPD. They are screening instruments that help identify the likelihood of BPD and the need for further evaluation.
DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for BPD
To receive a borderline personality disorder diagnosis, you must experience five or more of the following symptoms in a variety of contexts:
If you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
Currently, there are no laboratory tests to determine whether a person has borderline personality disorder. However, your healthcare provider may perform a physical exam along with bloodwork or additional tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms.In turn, this can increase your confidence in a borderline personality disorder diagnosis.
While it’s possible to identify recurring moods, behaviors, or patterns in your relationships on your own, you cannot diagnose yourself or someone else with borderline personality disorder without the proper training.
What’s more, many people experience the symptoms that characterize BPD from time to time—but may not fully meet the criteria for an official borderline personality disorder diagnosis.As is true for any mental health condition, the only way to receive an official diagnosis of BPD is to meet with a qualified mental health professional.
If you’re wondering whether or not you have BPD, contact a mental health professional to schedule an appointment for an assessment. While it can take time to connect with a clinician who specializes in treating BPD, it’s the best way to find an effective treatment for your needs.
Borderline personality disorder can be difficult to diagnose. Many people living with BPD also have co-occurring health conditions, mood disorders,eating disorders, substance abuse, or otherpersonality disorders, such as:
BPD is also often misdiagnosed as other mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder. Due to overlapping clusters of symptoms, it can take multiple appointments and failed attempts at other treatments before receiving a definitive BPD diagnosis.
Delayed diagnoses can occur because many mental healthcare providers are hesitant to label someone with BPD until all other factors have been ruled out. This is because BPD carries more stigma since it is more difficult to treat than other mental health conditions.
Gender and age can also complicate the diagnostic process. Rates of BPD do not differ among genders, but experts believe it is underdiagnosed in men and overdiagnosed in women. Additionally, teenagers are less likely to receive a BPD diagnosis.
If you or a loved one are struggling with borderline personality disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
Summary
Borderline personality disorder can be hard to diagnose. Symptoms of BPD include emotional instability, feelings of emptiness, intense anger, impulsive behavior, paranoid ideation, and disassociation. The symptoms often overlap with other mental health conditions, making a diagnosis hard to pinpoint.
There are no laboratory tests to identify BPD. It is diagnosed based on the DSM-5 criteria for BPD. Screening assessments, like the McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD) and Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire, 4th Edition (PDQ-4), can help identify the possibility of BPD, but are not used to make a definitive diagnosis.
It can take some time to get a diagnosis of BPD. Mental health practitioners need to first rule out other conditions. This means it may take several appointments before a conclusive diagnosis can be made.
6 SourcesVerywell Health 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.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th edition. 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596van Alebeek A, van der Heijden PT, Hessels C, Thong MSY, van Aken M.Comparison of three questionnaires to screen for borderline personality disorder in adolescents and young adults.Eur J Psychol Assess.2017;33(2),123–8. doi:10.1027/1015-5759/a000279National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).Borderline personality disorder.American Psychiatric Association.What are personality disorders?National Alliance on Mental Illness.Why borderline personality disorder is misdiagnosed.
6 Sources
Verywell Health 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.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th edition. 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596van Alebeek A, van der Heijden PT, Hessels C, Thong MSY, van Aken M.Comparison of three questionnaires to screen for borderline personality disorder in adolescents and young adults.Eur J Psychol Assess.2017;33(2),123–8. doi:10.1027/1015-5759/a000279National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).Borderline personality disorder.American Psychiatric Association.What are personality disorders?National Alliance on Mental Illness.Why borderline personality disorder is misdiagnosed.
Verywell Health 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.
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th edition. 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596van Alebeek A, van der Heijden PT, Hessels C, Thong MSY, van Aken M.Comparison of three questionnaires to screen for borderline personality disorder in adolescents and young adults.Eur J Psychol Assess.2017;33(2),123–8. doi:10.1027/1015-5759/a000279National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).Borderline personality disorder.American Psychiatric Association.What are personality disorders?National Alliance on Mental Illness.Why borderline personality disorder is misdiagnosed.
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th edition. 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
van Alebeek A, van der Heijden PT, Hessels C, Thong MSY, van Aken M.Comparison of three questionnaires to screen for borderline personality disorder in adolescents and young adults.Eur J Psychol Assess.2017;33(2),123–8. doi:10.1027/1015-5759/a000279
National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).Borderline personality disorder.
American Psychiatric Association.What are personality disorders?
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Why borderline personality disorder is misdiagnosed.
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