BPD vs Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)
Shownotes
Are people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) "antisocial"? In this episode, we dive deep into the complex, often misunderstood relationship between BPD and Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD).
We go beyond the online stereotypes and fear-mongering to explore the science, the diagnostic lines, and the sobering overlaps. We break down the crucial differences and the emotional experience. We also tackle why these disorders are so frequently confused, the dangerous dynamics of BPD/ASPD relationships, and the painful reality of trauma bonding.
This isn't about creating villains or victims. It's about compassion, critical thinking, and understanding the spectrum of human struggle. Whether you're challenging stigma, grappling with a difficult diagnosis, or simply seeking clarity, this episode provides the nuanced conversation this topic desperately needs.
🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] and let’s keep the conversation going.
🎧 Looking for meditations made for emotional regulation, BPD, and more? Check out Empowered Heroes Meditations on Spotify.
If you’d like more support in your journey toward BPD recovery, Steff offers 1:1 sessions using evidence-based tools from DBT and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation:
📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
Buchheim, A., Roth, G., Schiepek, G., Pogarell, O., & Karch, S. (2013). Neurobiology of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder (APD). Swiss Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry, 164(4), 115-122.
Chow, R. T. S., Yu, R., Geddes, J. R., & Fazel, S. (2025). Personality disorders, violence and antisocial behaviour: updated systematic review and meta-regression analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 227(1), 481–491. doi:10.1192/bjp.2024.226
Chun, S., Harris, A., Carrion, M., Rojas, E., Stark, S., Lejuez, C., Lechner, W. V., & Bornovalova, M. A. (2017). A psychometric investigation of gender differences and common processes across borderline and antisocial personality disorders. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 126(1), 76–88.
Lieb, K., Zanarini, M. C., Schmahl, C., Linehan, M. M., & Bohus, M. (2004). Borderline personality disorder. The lancet, 364(9432), 453-461.
Özel, B., Karakaya, E., Köksal, F. et al. Gender bias of antisocial and borderline personality disorders among psychiatrists. Arch Womens Ment Health 28, 563–571 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-024-01519-0
Raine, A. (2018). Antisocial personality as a neurodevelopmental disorder. Annual review of clinical psychology, 14(1), 259-289. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050817-084819
Stoffers-Winterling, J. M., Storebø, O. J., Kongerslev, M. T., Faltinsen, E., Todorovac, A., Jørgensen, M. S., ... & Simonsen, E. (2022). Psychotherapies for borderline personality disorder: a focused systematic review and meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 221(3), 538-552. doi:10.1192/bjp.2021.204
https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/10/work-offndrs-persnlty-disorder-oct15.pdf
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/619e6dbb8fa8f5037e8ccb2c/6.5151_HMPPS_Working_with_Offenders_with_Personality_Disorder_accessible_version_.pdf
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/borderline-personality-disorder-and-crime#research-starter-title