Crossing the Border Into Borderline Personality and Borderline Schizophrenia

TLDR

There is extensive psychiatric literature on borderline conditions, but no consensus on their definition. The authors reviewed literature on Borderline Schizophrenia and Borderline Personality, developed two diagnostic item sets, and plan to use them in DSM‑III. Both item sets showed high sensitivity and specificity in a sample of 808 borderline and 808 control patients.

Abstract

• Although there is a large psychiatric literature on various "borderline" conditions, there has been no agreement as to the definition of the concept. A review of the literature reviewed two major uses of the term: Borderline Schizophrenia and Borderline Personality. Two item sets were developed to provide diagnostic criteria for the two concepts. High sensitivity and specificity were demonstrated for both item sets using data describing 808 borderline and 808 control patients. These criteria will be used in the forthcoming DSM-III classification for the categories of Borderline Personality Disorder and Schizotypal Personality Disorder.