Similarities and Differences between Borderline and Narcissistic Personality Disorder
5,212Although Borderline and Narcissistic Personality Disorder are similar in many ways, they are different as well. Accurate diagnosis and understanding these two disorders can lead to better self-understanding and treatment outcomes.
Similarities
• Both have fear of abandonment and use maladaptive strategies to keep others close but in different ways
• High likelihood of stormy relationships – work, family social
• Impaired insight into behaviors, motivations, and consequences of self and other
• Difficulties with treatment compliance out of fear of change
• Poor boundaries
• Cognitive distortions – believe their behavior dictates all others behaviors, and beliefs
• Need for constant attention
• Idealizing and devaluing
Differences
• NPD tend to have stable self-image, while BPD does not – shifting goals, values, and aspirations.
• NPD - grandiosity, need for admiration or special treatment, and fantasies of unlimited power or importance
• BPD – low value of self, need to connect at an intense level, fantasies of loss, chaos, and impending abuse
• People with NPD expect others’ lives to revolve around them, while those with BPD will revolve their lives around another person
• NPD is associated less impulsive suicide attempts but more lethal and suicide attempts in narcissists are preceded by being fired or experiencing domestic, financial, or health-related problems, or narcissistic wounds.
• BPD suicide attempt is associated with impulsive response to severe emotional pain or a way of communicating distress-abandonment or emptiness. The object of this communication is usually a significant other, family member or a therapist.
Daniel J. Fox, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in Texas, international speaker, and award winning author. He has been specializing in the treatment and assessment of individuals with personality disorders for over 15 years in the state and federal prison system, universities, and in private practice. His specialty areas include personality disorders, ethics, burnout prevention, and emotional intelligence.
He has published several articles in these areas and is the author of:
The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook: An Integrative Program to Understand and Manage Your BPD --COMING SOON--
Antisocial, Borderline, Narcissistic and Histrionic Workbook: Treatment Strategies for Cluster B Personality Disorders (IPBA Benjamin Franklin Gold Award Winner): https://goo.gl/BLRkFy
Narcissistic Personality Disorder Toolbox: 55 Practical Treatment Techniques for Clients, Their Parents & Their Children: https://www.amazon.com/Narcissistic-Personality-Disorder-Toolbox-Techniques/dp/1683731522/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530470509&sr=8-1&keywords=fox+narcissistic
The Clinician’s Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment of Personality Disorders: https://goo.gl/ZAVe9v
Dr. Fox has been teaching and supervising students for over 15 years at various universities across the United States, some of which include West Virginia University, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, Sam Houston State University, and Florida State University. He is currently a staff psychologist in the federal prison system, Adjunct Assistant Professor at University of Houston, as well as maintaining a private practice that specializes in the assessment and treatment of individuals with complex psychopathology and personality disorders.
Dr. Fox has given numerous workshops and seminars on ethics and personality disorders, personality disorders and crime, treatment solutions for treating clients along the antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality spectrum, emotional intelligence, managing mental health within the prison system, and others. Dr. Fox maintains a website of various treatment interventions focused on working with and attenuating the symptomatology related to individuals along the antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality spectrum (www.drdfox.com).
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrDanielFox
Dr. Fox’s website: http://www.drdfox.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/appliedpsychservices/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrDanielJFox1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdfox/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdfox
Amazon Author’s Page: amazon.com/author/drfox
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Citations:
Kacel, E. L., Ennis, N., & Pereira, D. B. (2017). Narcissistic Personality Disorder in Clinical Health Psychology Practice: Case Studies of Comorbid Psychological Distress and Life-Limiting Illness. Behavioral Medicine (Washington, D.C.), 43(3): 156–164.
Diamond, D. et al. (2014). Attachment and mentalization in female patients with comorbid narcissistic and borderline personality disorder. Personality Disorders, 5: 428-433.