What Are the Signs and Symptoms of BPD in Men?

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) affects both men and women, but BPD in men can often be overlooked or misdiagnosed. Understanding the unique signs of BPD in men is essential for early identification and appropriate support. This blog will explore the key signs of BPD in men, how these signs may differ in BPD in men vs women, and why it’s crucial to address men’s mental health. We’ll also touch on how common is BPD in men and potential symptoms like quiet BPD in men, intense anger, impulsivity, and relationship difficulties. Recognizing these BPD symptoms in men is the first step toward seeking effective treatment and improving their quality of life.  

What Is Borderline Personality Disorder? 

 Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that affects how you feel about yourself and others. It’s the most commonly recognized personality disorder. BPD can cause long-term patterns of unstable or explosive emotions, making it hard to function in everyday life. People with BPD may have extreme mood swings, impulsive behavior, and intense, unstable relationships. They often have a strong fear of abandonment and can be very sensitive to rejection. Though BPD symptoms usually emerge in adolescence, people with BPD can get better with treatment and live more stable, fulfilling lives.  

BPD in Women vs Men 

While BPD affects both men and women, the way it manifests can differ. Historically, BPD was thought to be more prevalent in women, with a 3:1 female to male ratio, though recent research suggests the rates may be more equal. Women with BPD are more likely to exhibit symptoms such as affective instability, identity disturbance, chronic feelings of emptiness, as well as eating disorders, mood, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorders.  

Men, on the other hand, tend to show more impulsivity, explosive temperaments, novelty seeking, and are more likely to have substance abuse issues and antisocial personality characteristics. These differences in presentation can lead to potential biases in diagnosis and treatment. 

Here are some facts and statistics regarding BPD in men and women: 

• Epidemiological studies estimate that 0.5% to 5.9% of the adult population has BPD. 

• The DSM-5 indicates that about 75% of individuals diagnosed with BPD are females. However, more recent research suggests prevalence rates are not significantly different between males and females. 

• In the United States, the prevalence of BPD did not differ significantly between men and women (5.6% vs. 5.2%). 

• BPD is less commonly diagnosed in men in clinical samples because women are more prone to seek help in healthcare services for mental health problems, compared to men. 

• Men with BPD are more likely to have a comorbid substance use disorder. Women, on the other hand, are more likely to have comorbid eating, mood, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorders. 

• Men tend to express explosive temperaments, impulsivity, and novelty seeking, whereas women express more depressive, anxious, and somatic symptoms. 

• Females tend to be less prone to endorse impulsivity at lower degrees of borderline personality disorder severity than males. On the opposite, affective instability, self-mutilating behaviors/suicidality, and chronic feelings of emptiness were more discriminant in terms of severity in women than in men.