Home » Tests » Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Symptoms Test

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Symptoms Test

If your preteen, teen, or young adult’s long-standing instability in their interpersonal relationships and moods has you wondering if they have borderline personality disorder, the BPD symptoms test in this article could be useful. Developed by the Embark Behavioral Health clinical team, it can help identify if your child may have symptoms of this personality disorder so you can contact a mental health professional for an evaluation.  

Keep reading for more information about BPD — including how it’s diagnosed and what happens if it’s left untreated — and to take the BPD symptoms assessment.

Who Is This BPD Symptoms Quiz For?

This BPD symptoms test is for any preteen, teen, or young adult who suspects they have signs of this disorder. In addition, you, the parent, can take this BPD symptoms assessment for your child, providing answers that apply to their behavior. 

Is There a Definitive Test for BPD Symptoms?

When it comes to how to test for BPD, it’s important to note there’s no definitive test for symptoms. Still, the Embark BPD symptoms assessment can be useful to families who suspect a young person may have borderline personality disorder, as it could lead to a mental health professional diagnosing the disorder. 

According to Craig Simpson, the senior clinical director at Sunrise, a residential treatment center in Hurricane, Utah, early detection of BPD can help predict ongoing relationship issues, such as difficulty functioning in relationships in all areas of life, including at home, school, and work. It can also result in early treatment, which can help reduce the long-term impact of the disorder. 

“The earlier we identify BPD, the better outcomes we can achieve, and that can lead to less severe symptom presentation and disruption later in life,” Simpson said. 

How Accurate Is This BPD Symptoms Quiz?

This BPD symptoms test is an online test for potential BPD signs that indicate a preteen, teen, or young adult would benefit from seeing a therapist for a mental health assessment. It’s not a diagnostic tool for borderline personality disorder. 

“The most important thing to do if someone believes they have symptoms is to go to a professional and to not assume what their diagnosis is because there’s so much that goes into determining what the real diagnosis could be,” Simpson said.  

BPD Symptoms Test

For each of the statements in the BPD test below, please choose a response based on how often it applies to you (if you’re a preteen, teen, or young adult) or your child (if you’re the parent). The most honest responses will lead to the most accurate results. This test usually takes about five minutes. After you hit “Submit,” scroll down the page for the results.

Note: Embark Behavioral Health respects the privacy of those who take the test. All results are anonymous. 

"*" indicates required fields

I feel very unhappy about who I am.*
I feel physically separated from my feelings.*
If I want to do something, I do it without thinking about the consequences.*
I’ve deliberately harmed myself without meaning to kill myself (e.g., cutting or burning myself).*
I quickly lose my temper when I don’t get my way.*
I change quickly from feeling OK to feeling really bad or angry.*
I get so angry that I hit people or make verbal threats.*
My relationships are a rollercoaster with many ups and downs.*
I’ll do almost anything so I don’t feel alone.*
In close relationships, sometimes I think the other person is perfect, and other times, I think they’re terrible.*

How Is BPD Diagnosed?

So, how is BPD diagnosed? A good first step is to have your preteen, teen, or young adult visit a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker. This person can discuss your child’s symptoms and your family’s mental health history. They may also have your preteen, teen, or young adult complete a detailed BPD symptoms assessment. 

It’s important that your child avoids self-diagnosing BPD, as that can lead to problems, according to Simpson. For example, if they didn’t see a licensed mental health professional for a diagnosis, they might believe they don’t need to visit one for help and may try self-treatment methods that are ineffective and costly. For a young adult paying for their own health care, this could leave them with fewer financial resources for getting the right treatment later.  

Self-diagnosing BPD through a BPD symptoms test can also cause resistance if your child later receives a different diagnosis from a mental health professional. They may think what they’re being told is incorrect because they believe their earlier assessment of BPD is more accurate. As a result, they may reject a professional’s diagnosis and treatment advice. 

What Happens if BPD Is Left Untreated?

It’s important to know what happens if BPD is left untreated. According to Simpson, symptoms will worsen or become more frequent and can lead to interpersonal conflict and chronic difficulties in relationships. There may also be an increased chance of self-harm, impulsive behavior, all-or-nothing thinking, or a chronic sense of instability. Other mood, anxiety, or impulse-control disorders could develop. 

If, based on the BPD symptoms test, there are concerns your preteen, teen, or young adult may have signs of this mental illness, it’s best to reach out to a licensed mental health professional for help. 

BPD Symptoms Test: Next Steps

The BPD symptoms assessment in this article can be the first step toward getting help if you or your child are concerned they have borderline personality disorder. If the BPD symptoms test shows they may have signs of this disorder and a licensed mental health professional later diagnoses them as having it, finding a therapist who specializes in this mental illness can be helpful, as can family participation in the treatment process.  

“It’s important that family members are involved in treatment so they can gain the tools needed to improve their understanding of the disorder and their interactions with one another, especially with the child who’s working toward healing,” Simpson said. 

Embark is the most trusted name in teen and young adult mental health treatment. We’re driven to find the help your family needs. If you’re looking for support, contact us today.    

Related Posts 

Posted in
Embark Behavioral Health

Embark Behavioral Health

Embark Behavioral Health is a leading network of outpatient centers and residential programs offering premier mental health treatment for preteens, teens, and young adults. Dedicated to its big mission of reversing the trends of teen and young adult anxiety, depression, and suicide by 2028, Embark offers a robust continuum of care with different levels of service and programming; has a deep legacy of over 25 years serving youths; works with families to adjust treatment in real time to improve results; treats the entire family using an evidence-supported approach; and offers the highest levels of quality care and safety standards. For more information about Embark or its treatment programs, including virtual services, intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), therapeutic day treatment programs, also known as partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), residential treatment, and outdoor therapy, visit embarkbh.com.