The authors assessed the frequency of schizotypal symptoms in 48
criteria-defined borderline patients. In the total sample schizotypal
symptoms were surprisingly common; the average patient had more than seven
symptoms and every patient at least one. Even in the "pure" DSM- III
borderline subgroup, 67% of the patients had perceptual symptoms, 92% had
cognitive symptoms, and 87% reported other "affective" symptoms. Visual
phenomena were more prevalent than auditory ones, suggesting a possible
contributing role for organic factors in borderline disorders. The results
also indicate a close link between borderline and schizotypal personality
disorders.
Abstract Teaser