Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex and often misdiagnosed mental health condition. Its symptoms usually include fluctuating self-image, intense emotions, and unstable relationships.
Correct diagnosis of the condition is essential for effective treatment. So, if you suspect you or a close friend or relative have BPD, seek information on different tests. Learn how each of them works and how they can help you with proper diagnosis. Keep reading to learn about different types of BPD tests and how they help with assessing symptoms and diagnosis.
Self-Assessment Questionnaires
One of the ways you can take a BPD test is through answering self-assessment questionnaires. These tools rely on your description of your behaviors and symptoms. However, the BPT test results you get from them are not conclusive. You may need to see a mental health professional, depending on the results you get, for a more comprehensive evaluation.
McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD)
For a quick assessment of the likelihood of BPD, consider taking the MSI-BPD test. It contains ten questions about symptoms like feelings of emptiness, relationship instability, and mood swings. Answering them accurately can help you know if you have BPD.
Borderline Personality Questionnaire (BPQ)
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive BPD test, then consider taking BPQ. It has 80 items that aim to assess a wide range of BPD symptoms. Take your time when answering it to ensure you provide correct and reliable information.
Structured Clinical Interviews
Self-assessment questionnaires are often inconclusive, and you should not rely solely on them. If they give high BPD test scores, you should take the next step and see a medical health doctor. The idea is to undergo structured clinical interviews for a systematic and detailed assessment of BPD.
The doctor will ask questions that evaluate a person for different personality disorders, including BPD. They also seek information on the conditions that trigger BPD. The goal is to gather data that will help them develop a personalized BPD treatment.
Observer-Report Measures
Most people tend to be unaware of their unstable behaviors. They deny struggling with intense emotions or relationship problems. One of the ways to overcome this bias, if you suspect you have BPD, is through observer-report measures.
The plan is to collect data from people in your social circle about your behaviors and symptoms. These people can act as independent observers sharing their perspectives about you. The information they provide can be combined with other BPD test results for a more comprehensive diagnosis. It can aid the mental health professional to understand how you relate with other people.
Conclusion
Proper diagnosis of borderline personality disorder often requires combining different tests. So, don’t be quick to conclude you have BPD after getting a high score from a self-assessment questionnaire. Take the next step and visit a mental health professional for structured clinical interviews. The goal is to get a thorough evaluation to get a correct diagnosis, which is key to receiving effective treatment. Besides, the evaluation can help you know if you’re prone to other mental health problems and how to mitigate the risks.
