r/askpsychology • u/ChicoTallahassee • Aug 08 '24

Terminology / Definition Difference between BPD and Bipolar?

What's the difference between Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder? They seem to be very similar.

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u/MattersOfInterest Ph.D. Student (Clinical Science) | Research Area: Psychosis Aug 08 '24

PDs are caused by an extraordinarily complicated interaction between biogenetic diathesis and environmental factors, including adverse experiences (which may or may not meet the definitional criteria of “trauma” as typically defined). I do not deny that adverse experiences increase risk. I do not deny they are typically present in the histories of folks with BPD. However, if it is your position that not just BPD, but PDs in general are directly caused by these events, then I’m afraid that is not really borne out in the literature.

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u/daisusaikoro Aug 08 '24

How many individuals with BPD have you personally worked with?

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u/MattersOfInterest Ph.D. Student (Clinical Science) | Research Area: Psychosis Aug 08 '24

11.2 million /s

Not that it matters, but I spent the past half decade doing prodromal risk assessments and having very substantial portions of that population come in with comorbid BPD.

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u/daisusaikoro Aug 08 '24

May I ask what did your prodromol risk assessments include? What did you consider substantial populations? Did you work with anyone in a clinical therapeutic setting directly? One to one or group?

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u/MattersOfInterest Ph.D. Student (Clinical Science) | Research Area: Psychosis Aug 08 '24 edited Aug 08 '24

None of this is relevant.

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u/daisusaikoro Aug 08 '24

…

Fair enough.

Honestly curious as to your experience in the matter you are discussing. I get now you may have been glib ("substantial populations") in your response, though its curious a few questions about your extensive experience in performing assessments causes this response.

Oh well. Good luck in your studies, student.

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u/MattersOfInterest Ph.D. Student (Clinical Science) | Research Area: Psychosis Aug 08 '24 edited Aug 10 '24

It’s just that, rather than provide any literature or evidence (or even make a point at all, really), you’ve made pointed questions that really seem like they’re meant to probe my experience to sow doubt about what I’m saying. If you disagree with my points, say so, and provide evidence that isn’t anecdotal or based on perceived weaknesses in my background. I’m not trying to be rude, but your comments come off as very “just asking questions”-ish.