- Difficulty maintaining close relationships
- Feelings of paranoia
- Episodes of psychosis
“Borderline personality disorder can consist of extreme emotional distress that appears like paranoia, which is very similar to the paranoia of schizophrenia,” says Ciara Bogdanovic, a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Los Angeles.
But as mentioned, BPD and schizophrenia have distinct differences, says Dr. De Gannes. The core symptoms of BPD center on emotional disturbance, while schizophrenia symptoms come from the disturbance of reality and thought, adds Bogdanovic.
“BPD often involves intense emotions, while schizophrenia can lead to pulling away from others,” Frank adds. “Emotional ups and downs and cognitive challenges are typical in both, though they stem from different causes.”
Although both conditions can lead to fractured relationships, the “why” varies by condition. In schizophrenia, confusion and hallucinations cause the most issues in relationships, says De Gannes. But in BPD, it’s the frequent switch between affection and anger, he adds.
Psychosis in BPD usually arises from extreme stress and is less common and severe than in schizophrenia, notes De Gannes.