Diagnostic Criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder Evidenced-Based Psychotherapy and Psychopharmacologic Treatments

  A diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD is made in early childhood. The characteristics of BPD have a pattern of unstable interpersonal relationships, poor identity image, impulsivity, and unpredictable mood and affect (Sadock, Sadock, & Ruiz, 2014). The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5) reported that at least five of the nine criteria need to be present to have a diagnosis of BPD (Sadock, Sadock, & Ruiz, 2014). Misdiagnosis is a widely prevalent issue with BPD, as it can get confused with bipolar disorder (Gabbard, 2014). To differentiate between the two mental disorders, one would have to notice that BPD clients are highly dependent on life events while bipolar disorder individuals are not.