Chapter 3. Interface Between Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar II Disorder

Both bipolar II disorder (BD II) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) are serious illnesses resulting in significant psychosocial impairment, chronic symptom burden, and excess mortality (Angst et al. 2002; Bryant-Comstock et al. 2002; Comtois and Carmel 2014; Gunderson et al. 2011; Morgan et al. 2005; Oldham 2006; Ruggero et al. 2007; Skodol et al. 2002). It is clinically important to recognize and distinguish between BD II and BPD because the empirically supported treatments for each differ.