Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsImpulsive TypeDiscouraged TypeSelf-Destructive TypePetulant TypeDiagnosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Impulsive Type
Discouraged Type
Self-Destructive Type
Petulant Type
Diagnosis
There are four widely accepted types ofborderline personality disorder(BPD):
It is possible to have more than one type of BPD at the same time or at different times. It’s also possible to not fit any one of these borderline personality categories.
Verywell / Michela Buttignol
People with this mental health condition have issues with:
Overlap in symptoms exists between the types. Aggressiveness and anger may vary considerably between them.
This article looks at the four types of borderline personality disorder. It explains what defines them, their causes, and how BPD is diagnosed.
Living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Impulsive BPD
Impulsive behavior is a primary symptom of BPD. A person with BPD can act in impulsive and often dangerous ways. They may do this without regard for others or possible consequences.
People with this type of BPD may appear:
Some example behaviors include:
Discouraged BPD
This is also known as quiet borderline personality disorder. People with this type are afraid of being abandoned. They may take extreme actions to prevent real or imagined abandonment.
Compared to people with other types of BPD, people with this type may keep their emotions inside. They also tend to blame themselves rather than others.
Discouraged types may:
Signs of discouraged BPD include:
Self-Destructive BPD
People with this type of BPD struggle with self-hatred and often feel bitter.
Example behaviors of people with this type of BPD include:
Symptoms of self-destructive BPD are similar to those of other conditions. These additional symptoms can help set it apart:
That said, these may be signs of a manic episode orbipolar disorder rather than self-destructive BPD. Talk to your doctor so you can be sure to get the right treatment.
Petulant BPD
People with this type of BPD may be angry one moment and sad or sulky the next. They may swing unpredictably between one emotion and another. They may also feel unworthy and unloved. This can lead to relationship challenges and an unhealthy desire for control.
People with this type of BPD can be manipulative. They often feel very dissatisfied in their relationships. Substance abuse and other dangerous behaviors often follow.
Help Is AvailableIf you or someone you know is in crisis and threatening self-harm or suicide, contact theSuicide & Crisis Lifelineat988. This is a national toll-free number that is available 24/7 and will provide confidential support and connect you to local crisis centers. Never discount suicide threats from people with BPD.
Help Is Available
If you or someone you know is in crisis and threatening self-harm or suicide, contact theSuicide & Crisis Lifelineat988. This is a national toll-free number that is available 24/7 and will provide confidential support and connect you to local crisis centers. Never discount suicide threats from people with BPD.
How Do I Know What Type of BPD I Have?
There is no one “BPD test” that can diagnose the disorder or tell you what type of BPD you have.
To diagnose BPD, your healthcare provider may:
Their evaluation may lead to the diagnosis of one or more types of BPD. However, some people have only the core symptoms of BPD and may not necessarily fit into any of the four types discussed here.
Your healthcare provider will monitor your symptoms over time. Most people with BPD improve with treatment, though it is possible to experience relapses. Thus, it’s important to follow up with your healthcare provider even if you feel that you are improving.
How BPD Is Diagnosed
Summary
The four types of BPD include impulsive, discouraged, self-destructive, and petulant. Each highlights a different aspect of BPD.
For example, people with impulsive BPD tend to act without thinking about the consequences. People with self-destructive BPD struggle with self-hatred and suicidal thoughts.
Anyone with BPD may have one type or more than one, though some people don’t squarely fit into any of these categories.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in Men
4 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.National Alliance on Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.Smits ML, Feenstra DJ, Bales DL, et al.Subtypes of borderline personality disorder patients: a cluster-analytic approach.Bord personal disord emot dysregul. 2017;4(1):16. doi:10.1186/s40479-017-0066-4Millon T.Disorders of Personality: DSM-IV and Beyond. 2nd edition. Wiley; 1995.Biskin RS.The lifetime course of borderline personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):303-8. doi:10.1177/070674371506000702
4 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.National Alliance on Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.Smits ML, Feenstra DJ, Bales DL, et al.Subtypes of borderline personality disorder patients: a cluster-analytic approach.Bord personal disord emot dysregul. 2017;4(1):16. doi:10.1186/s40479-017-0066-4Millon T.Disorders of Personality: DSM-IV and Beyond. 2nd edition. Wiley; 1995.Biskin RS.The lifetime course of borderline personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):303-8. doi:10.1177/070674371506000702
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.
National Alliance on Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.Smits ML, Feenstra DJ, Bales DL, et al.Subtypes of borderline personality disorder patients: a cluster-analytic approach.Bord personal disord emot dysregul. 2017;4(1):16. doi:10.1186/s40479-017-0066-4Millon T.Disorders of Personality: DSM-IV and Beyond. 2nd edition. Wiley; 1995.Biskin RS.The lifetime course of borderline personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):303-8. doi:10.1177/070674371506000702
National Alliance on Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.
Smits ML, Feenstra DJ, Bales DL, et al.Subtypes of borderline personality disorder patients: a cluster-analytic approach.Bord personal disord emot dysregul. 2017;4(1):16. doi:10.1186/s40479-017-0066-4
Millon T.Disorders of Personality: DSM-IV and Beyond. 2nd edition. Wiley; 1995.
Biskin RS.The lifetime course of borderline personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):303-8. doi:10.1177/070674371506000702
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