Its rare for borderline personality disorder (BPD) and schizophrenia to occur together, but it is possible.

Mental health conditions arent usually cut-and-dry conditions. Its common for some people to have multiple mental health conditions that might be connected, such as living with depression and anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD).

The same is true for some people with schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder (BPD), which can occur together.

To understand what the co-occurring disorders of borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia might look like, it can be helpful to familiarize yourself with what each disorder looks like separately.

And despite the seriousness of each condition, managing symptoms is possible with the right treatment plan.

You wont find the term borderline schizophrenia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM 5). It hasnt been a recognized disorder since 1980.

Borderline schizophrenia or pseudoneurotic schizophrenia is an outdated term once used interchangeably with borderline psychosis. Later on, this was split into the current classifications of schizotypal personality disorder and borderline personality disorder (BPD).

But there are some overlapping symptoms between BPD and schizophrenia.

It is possible for someone to have both disorders at the same time, though it is rare. But more research is still needed on the comorbidity of BPD and schizophrenia.

While 2014 research indicates that people with borderline personality disorder often experience co-occurring psychiatric conditions, the exact rate of schizophrenia and BPD comorbidity specifically isnt clear just yet.

A 2010 study found that 17.6% of people diagnosed with schizophrenia also met the criteria for BPD. But research from 2018 illustrated that schizophrenia was present in only 2% of females with BPD.

If you or a loved one has both BPD and schizophrenia, learning the similarities and differences of these conditions can be helpful in understanding how they may interact.

BPD is classified in the DSM 5 as a personality disorder, which is generally characterized by:

Research from 2008 found that up to 5.9% of people may experience BPD at some point in their lifetime. Onset typically occurs during adolescence or young adulthood.

Schizophrenia falls within the schizophrenia spectrum class of disorders in the DSM 5.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), schizophrenia affects less than 1% of the population, and is among the top 15 causes of disability worldwide, with symptoms indicating a diminished connection to reality.

Psychosis refers to a severe disconnection from reality. Psychotic episodes include hallucinations or delusions.

Psychosis can occur in both schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder, but psychotic episodes in BPD are, by definition, short, fleeting, and related to stress.

A significant but smaller percentage of people with BPD experience hallucinations than people with schizophrenia. According to research from 2021, an estimated 29% to 50% of people with BPD report hallucinations.

This is compared to an estimated 60% to 80% of people with schizophrenia who report experiencing these symptoms, based on a 2021 review.

And unlike schizophrenia, BPD psychotic episodes are generally not accompanied by negative symptoms or disorganization.

While its rare for BPD and schizophrenia to cooccur together, some symptoms may overlap.

Knowing the differences in how each conditions symptoms can look and feel can be helpful.

Schizophrenia symptoms generally fall under three categories:

Some of the most common symptoms of borderline personality disorder include:

A significant but smaller percentage of people with BPD may also experience:

If youre considering acting on suicidal thoughts, please seek professional support immediately.

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The causes of both BPD and schizophrenia arent entirely clear to experts at this time, and more research is needed. Its believed that genetics, physiology, and environment all play a role in the development of these conditions.

No single factor is likely to lead to the development of these disorders but rather a complex combination of multiple sources.

Though no single gene has been identified as a cause of BPD or schizophrenia, its clear that family history may play a role in their development.

A 2017 review of twin studies found that if an identical twin develops schizophrenia, the other may have a higher chance of developing it, too.

Family members of those with BPD also have a higher chance of developing the condition, according to research from 2021.

But this doesnt mean that having a family member with one of these conditions guarantees that you will develop it, too.

Experiencing trauma early in life can be a contributing factor to developing BPD.

A 2021 review indicates that up to 90% of people living with BPD experienced childhood trauma, including:

A different 2021 review suggests that environmental sources may account for between 15% to 40% of the chance of developing schizophrenia, but those sources are believed to be more diverse than those that contribute to BPD.

This may include:

Differences in neurotransmitter levels especially serotonin and dopamine may impact the development of both schizophrenia and BPD.

And, its not just your brain chemicals. Regions of the brain in charge of emotion regulation and impulse control including the amygdala and hippocampus may look and function differently in people with BPD.

Neuroimaging research from 2018 of people with schizophrenia showed significant differences in the size and activity of the frontal and temporal lobes, which play a large role in:

Both BPD and schizophrenia require professional treatment to manage. These conditions can be more difficult to address if you havent received an accurate diagnosis.

Working with a doctor or therapist on designing an effective treatment plan can help you manage symptoms.

Treatment plans for both conditions may consist of a combination of:

Finding the best treatment plan for your symptoms can take time. You may have to try multiple strategies before finding what works for you.

Psychotherapy is considered a first-line treatment for BPD and is often used to treat schizophrenia in combination with medication.

Specific types of therapy used for BPD include:

Though research on how well transference-focused therapy performs is mixed.

For those with schizophrenia, therapy may focus more heavily on developing skills for managing everyday life.

Types of therapy commonly used include:

Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications available to specifically treat BPD. But some people with BPD may have overlapping mental health conditions and may be prescribed medications for those conditions, such as:

For people with schizophrenia, antipsychotic medication is commonly prescribed to help manage hallucinations and delusions, including:

Stress can impact both BPD and schizophrenia, and lifestyle changes centered on self-care can be essential for managing symptoms of these conditions.

Some examples of self-care strategies include:

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of BPD and schizophrenia, youre not alone. Its possible to manage the symptoms of these conditions with the right treatment plan.

Consider talking with your doctor or therapist as a first step. Being curious and educating yourself on what these two conditions can look like as well as possible treatment options can be a helpful place to start your mental health journey.

If youre ready to get help but dont know where to begin, you can check out Psych Centrals hub for finding mental health support.

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Borderline Schizophrenia: What It Is and More - PsychCentral.com

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