ADHD and other conditions
ADHD and personality problems
ADHD and personality problems can look alike, especially when it comes to impulsivity and changeable emotions. They also occur together. That makes it not always easy to tell them apart.
What personality problems are
Personality problems involve fixed patterns of thinking, feeling and relating to others that hinder you and the people around you over a long period. A well-known form is borderline personality disorder, which involves intense emotions and impulsive behaviour, among other things.
ADHD is not a personality disorder. It is a developmental disorder that already starts in childhood.
Where they look alike
Impulsivity
Acting first, thinking later. This occurs in ADHD, and also in borderline personality disorder.Changeable emotions
In ADHD, mood swings, irritability and emotional instability are common. That resembles features of borderline.
How the difference is identified
When the symptoms started and in what order they appeared helps to determine what belongs to ADHD and what to personality problems. For an ADHD diagnosis, some features must already have been present before the age of 12.
How often they occur together
- In ADHD
- ± 15%of adults with ADHD also meet the criteria for borderline personality disorder.
- In borderline
- 1 in 3adults with borderline personality disorder in mental health care also meet the criteria for ADHD.
What treating ADHD can do
Treating ADHD, including with medication, can reduce restlessness, impulsivity and mood swings. As a result, someone can often benefit more from treatment for the personality problems.
What this means for the assessment
- We ask about your childhood and about when your symptoms started.
- In the medical intake, we also look at other mental health symptoms.
- If another serious mental health problem is at the forefront, or if another condition explains your symptoms better than ADHD, other care comes first. We specialise in ADHD in adults and do not carry out extensive diagnostics for other psychiatric conditions.
Do you suspect personality problems?
Questions about ADHD and personality problems
- Yes, that happens. About 15 per cent of adults with ADHD also meet the criteria for borderline personality disorder.
- No. ADHD is a developmental disorder that already starts in childhood. However, the symptoms can resemble those of personality problems.
- No. We specialise in ADHD in adults and do not carry out extensive diagnostics for other psychiatric conditions. Your GP can refer you to suitable care.
Sources
- Dutch guideline on personality disorders (2022) – ADHD in personality disorders (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
- Guideline on ADHD in adults (NVvP, Dutch Psychiatric Association) (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
- JGZ guideline ADHD (youth health care) – diagnosis according to the DSM-5 (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
Checked in October 2026.
ADHD and other conditions
Read more
- ADHD and autismADHD and autism: a lot of overlap, different causes. Since 2013, both may be diagnosed together. About the differences and where you can go.
- ADHD and anxiety & depressionPeople with ADHD are more likely to develop anxiety and depression, and concentration problems can also be part of depression. This is how you can tell the difference.
- ADHD and addictionWhy ADHD and addiction often go together, what comes first, what ADHD medication does and when you can come to ADHD Medisch Centrum.
- ADHD and traumaAfter a distressing event, you may develop symptoms that resemble ADHD, such as concentration problems and poor sleep. This is how you can tell the difference, and how we look at it in the assessment.
Still have a question?
Call us on 020 303 34 65 or email info@adhdmc.nl. You can reach us by phone Monday to Saturday, 9.00 – 17.00.