How can you tell the difference between Borderline personality disorder and bipolar??

and what are the differences between the two??

I disagree with Maurice, because the 99.9% figure is too high. While it is totally true that the majority of BPD diagnoses are women (around 75%), there is credible evidence that men with the same presentation are more likely to be diagnosed with substance abuse disorders, narcissistic, or antisocial disorders (possibly explaining why the large majority of antisocial diagnoses are men)

--but this is beside the point. The fact is, while it may be more common in women, men can have BPD as well.

There are different types of disorder classifications - Axis 1 and Axis 2 disorders. Axis 1 disorders include things like depressions, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. These are often due to neurochemical imbalances. Axis 2 disorders include the personality disorders and are more long-term and most of the time not effectively treatable by medications meant to correct neurochemical problems.

According to the DSM-IV, there are specific criteria to be met before someone is diagnosed as BiPolar or with BPD.

I'm going to link to the wiki sites which have the listing of criteria for both, since they would amount to a HUGE wall of text here, and let you look through them.

For BiPolar Disorder:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_dia...

note that there are several different "types" of bipolar disorder, depending on whether or not there is a major depressive episode, a "mixed" episode, a major manic episode, or a less severe "hypomania", etc. There is a huge amount of information on that page, but the specifics of how a diagnosis is made are complicated.

For BPD:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_...

People suffering from BPD do show different signs and symptoms as people suffering from bipolar swings. While both exhibit mood swings, the root causes are different. Read carefully through the criteria for BPD.

Also keep in mind that a great number of people who have Axis 2 disorders also have Axis 1 disorders. It's quite possible and common to have both. (and often why pharmaceutical treatment may seem to help - there are several problems at play)

If you know someone who has BPD, or someone who has a loved one with BPD, an excellent book to read is "I Hate You - Don't Leave Me" by Jerold J. Kreisman, MD & Hal Straus. (ISBN: 0-380-71305-5)

Good luck to you!

Borderline personality disorder is 99.9% of the time only female.

Also, BPD is a learned process, while bipolar is chemically involved.

bipolar is a mood fluctuation disorder, characterized most often by depression.

BPD involves instability not only of mood, but of perception of self, perception of others, relationships, behavioral consistency, self-control, etc.

I have Borderline Personality so I can only speak of my experience. Both disorders have marked mood changes but with Borderline the moods can change from hour to hour, we suffer from self-harm episodes, dissociation & a loss of identity and hate to be alone. Relationships tend to be very very hard both platonic & romantic. Bi-polar I think have a manic & depressive state that last for longer periods (several weeks/months).
Hope this helped a little & good luck!

They both have similar symptoms,and it is very hard for a person,even a trained doctor,to tell the difference.I would suggest wikipedia for the general symptoms,but keep in mind there are more than just those listed,and you do not have to have everysingle one to fall under that "class"

I suggest seeing a doctor,as it takes time come to a viable diagnose.