Mood Disorders vs. Personality Disorders: What's the Difference?

[Shree]

Bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder often get confused. But one is mood-based, the other behavioral. Should mental health education clarify these terms early?

 

[Hazel]

Mood disorders, like depression or bipolar disorder, involve fluctuations in emotional states, often triggered by external factors. Personality disorders, like borderline or narcissistic personality disorder, are deeply ingrained patterns of behavior and thought that affect relationships and functioning over time.

 

[Fidelia]

Mood disorders are somewhat temporary and seem to be triggered by something. A person can just have elevated moods in the morning and depressed moods in the evening. But for personality disorder, it is systemic to the person. A person's belief system and exposure has formed a mindset that is rigid and defensive. It is difficult dealing with someone that has a personality disorder entirely.

 

[eLdavis]

From what i understand, mood disorder simply affects the person emotions, meaning the person still portrays the same characters ans traits but just different emotions. Character disorder on the other hand create a completely different person.