The authors examined whether transitional object use distinguishes
borderline patients from patients with other personality disorders or
schizophrenia and from normal subjects. One hundred five subjects were
given a structured interview to assess present and past transitional object
use. The borderline group had the highest scores on the interview, and the
group with nonborderline axis II diagnoses the lowest. Although
transitional object use was not specific to the borderline diagnosis, it
did emerge as a potentially useful developmental and psychodynamic marker
for borderline persons.Abstract Teaser