There is actually no difference in the criteria for Borderline and Bipolar II Rapid Cycling. In Bipolar II, you can shift moods daily, or even hourly, there's even a category called "Ultradian Cycling" for that. And no distinct mood swings.
The meds for both disorders are exactly the same as far as I know.
DBT group and individual therapy are the same for both disorders.
I don't know what the new DSM-V will show, but in the DSM-IV there was only one dubious difference: Borderlines fear abandonment, and threaten
to suicide when faced with it. Who doesn't have abandonment issues?
I have Bipolar I and I'm an MFT, and I say they are one and the same
disorder, or at most, slight variations on the same spectrum.
Bipolar I
Joined: 04-16-2013