Borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia: What’s the difference?

While the terms borderline personality disorder (BPD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are often used interchangeably, Dr. Bella Schanzer, a psychiatrist with Baylor College of Medicine, says it’s important to know the differences between these conditions.

Borderline personality disorder

BPD is a personality disorder in which a person experiences many mood fluctuations.

“One of the core elements of the disorder is seeing the world in black and white, so everything is an extreme. Often, people with this disorder have dysfunctional relationships.”

Symptoms of BPD include:

• Engaging in maladaptive and harmful behaviors
• Emotional instability
• Fear of being abandoned
• Having rigid views of people and the world
• Chronic suicidal thoughts or attempting suicide
• Although this is a lifelong disorder, there are ways to manage, control and treat some of the behaviors.

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