A STUDY OF PREVALENCE OF BORDERLINE PERSONALITY TRAITS IN OUTDOOR PATIENTS OF BIPOLAR MOOD DISORDER

Abstract

Background: Bipolar Disorder consists of two types mainly, among them bipolar type 2 is most commonly misidentified as BPD. BPD tends to be misdiagnosed as Bipolar Mood Disorder by clinicians depriving the patients of various treatment modalities available specific to personality disorder and compromising quality of life. Aims & objectives: To study the prevalence of borderline personality traits and to compare the quality of life in patients of Bipolar Mood Disorder with Borderline Personality Traits and those without Borderline Personality traits. Methodology: A cross-sectional, observational, interview based study  was conducted among 200 outdoor patients  suffering from Bipolar mood disorder and came to the Psychiatry department of a tertiary care multi-specialty hospital. Results: In this study recruited patients age range from 18 to 65 years with mean age is 35.06±12.20 years. Among them 41.5% are females and 58.5% are males. Rapid mood swings (79%) were the most common symptom followed by inappropriate or difficult to control anger outbursts (71%) and frequent conflicts and arguments with other people(58%). Problems with identity and self-image (35%) and unrealistic self or surrounding (32%) were least common as found in our study. There was no statistical significant difference found in environmental and physical health domains. Conclusion: The borderline personality traits are present 8% of patients with Bipolar Mood Disorder. Patients with comorbid borderline personality traits demonstrated significant associations with factors such as younger age, longer duration of illness, past history of suicide attempts, substance abuse, and family history of psychiatric illness.