The authors applied a list of operational criteria to all new patients
in a large psychiatric outpatient department over a one-year period. A
randomly selected group of patients clinically diagnosed as having
borderline personality disorder was compared with groups with the diagnoses
of schizophrenia, neurosis, and nonborderline personality disorder. The
group with borderline personality disorder was significantly different from
the other groups according to the criteria, especially on items reflecting
impulsivity, affectivity, and overvaluation/derogation of others. Impaired
reality testing proved a useful distinguishing criterion as well and should
be retained as part of the borderline concept.
Abstract Teaser