Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), also known as emotionally unstable personality disorder, borderline type (ICD-10: F60.31), is one of the most common and complex personality disorders.

What Is Borderline?

The term “borderline” originated in the 1930s when psychiatrists described patients who seemed to exist on the border between neurosis and psychosis. Today, we know that it is a distinct disorder in its own right.

Core Features

Borderline Personality Disorder is characterised by:

• Instability in relationships – intense but unstable interpersonal relationships
• Identity disturbance – unclear or disrupted sense of self
• Emotional instability – severe mood swings
• Impulsivity – acting without considering the consequences
• Chronic emptiness – persistent feelings of inner emptiness
• Fear of abandonment – excessive fear of being left alone

The Borderline Spectrum

Important

Borderline is not all the same. The spectrum is very broad.

The broad spectrum of Borderline Personality Disorder

Multi-comorbidity is a hallmark of Borderline Personality Disorder. It can be understood as a cascade disorder: individual co-occurring disorders interlock and develop in stages on the foundation of the borderline disorder.

Borderline Personality Disorder as a cascade disorder with layered comorbidities

More on this topic: Borderline Spectrum and Comorbidity

Diagnostic Criteria

Diagnosis follows standardised classification systems:

• ICD-10 Criteria (F60.31) – international classification
• DSM-IV Criteria – American diagnostic system

Further Topics

Borderline Self-Test Self-assessment for initial orientation

Spectrum & Comorbidity Understanding the borderline spectrum

Psychodynamics Id, Ego, and Superego in Borderline

Executive Functions Neuropsychological aspects

Relationships & Borderline Partnerships with people affected by Borderline

Splitting The central defence mechanism

Therapy Options Treatment possibilities