Questions answered

Frequently asked questions

Can an online test diagnose BPD?

No. An online screening cannot diagnose BPD or any other condition. Diagnosis requires a licensed clinician to evaluate experiences, personal history, and other possible explanations over time. A screening can help someone notice patterns worth discussing, but it has no diagnostic authority.

How do I know if I have BPD?

It is not possible to reliably determine this alone. Mood shifts, relationship difficulties, and identity questions can have many possible causes, and distinguishing them takes a careful clinical evaluation. If patterns feel persistent and affect relationships, work, or safety, it is reasonable to talk to a professional regardless of the label.

Is BPD serious?

BPD can involve significant distress and is associated with an elevated risk of self-harm and suicide compared with the general population. That is why safety information is prominent on this site. BPD is also treatable, and many people improve with structured support such as psychotherapy. Taking it seriously and having hope are compatible.

Can you self-diagnose BPD?

Not reliably. Self-reflection can be a useful first step toward understanding experiences and seeking help, but it cannot replace an evaluation. Depression, PTSD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and other conditions can overlap with BPD-related patterns; a clinician assesses the differences in context.

I think I have BPD. What should I do?

Write down the patterns you have noticed, how long they have been present, and how they affect your day-to-day life. A primary-care clinician, therapist, or psychiatrist can be a reasonable place to start. You do not need certainty before reaching out: describing what has been difficult is enough. Read our guide to how BPD is assessed for what to expect.

Is BPD the same as being bipolar?

No. They can share some features and can occur together, but they are different conditions. Bipolar disorder involves distinct episodes of unusually elevated mood or energy (mania or hypomania) and depression. BPD-related emotional shifts may be rapid and strongly connected to interpersonal stress. A professional assessment is needed to tell them apart.

Are my quiz answers stored anywhere?

No. The screening runs entirely in the browser. Answers are not sent to our servers, logged, or linked to an account or identifier. Closing the tab clears the current quiz state.

Do I need to sign up or give my email to see results?

No. There is no account, email gate, or payment required to take the screening or see results.

What should I do if I score high on the screening?

A high score means several patterns in the screening felt familiar often; it does not mean someone has BPD. It can be a reasonable signal to speak with a licensed mental-health professional, just as a lower score can be if something still feels wrong. Our resources page lists options for finding support.

Can teenagers be diagnosed with BPD?

Clinicians can carefully evaluate adolescents. NIMH notes that a diagnosis under 18 is possible in some cases when symptoms are severe and have lasted at least a year. Young people deserve a developmentally informed assessment and support whether or not a specific diagnosis is made.

Is this screening based on a real clinical tool?

It is informed by general diagnostic concepts used in clinical assessment, but it is not a copy of a specific instrument and has not itself been clinically validated. Learn about clinical screening tools and why they need professional interpretation on our MSI-BPD guide.

For more detail, see how BPD is assessed, our BPD and bipolar comparison, and the support resources page.

About this page: Educational information based on the sources below; it is not individual medical advice.

Last updated: August 24, 2026

Sources

If you’re in crisis or thinking about harming yourself

You deserve support right now. If there is immediate danger, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department.