To assess the nature and prevalence of psychotic symptoms in borderline
personality disorder, the authors reviewed the cases of 33 patients meeting
DSM-III criteria for borderline personality disorder, using both "narrow"
and "broad" definitions of psychosis. Only eight patients displayed
psychotic symptoms meeting the "narrow" DSM-III definition; in all of these
cases, the symptoms appeared to be attributable to either severe drug abuse
or major affective disorder, present simultaneously with borderline
personality disorder. The remaining patients displayed only "broadly
defined" psychotic symptoms or symptoms that appeared to be under voluntary
control. These findings weigh against the assumption that borderline
personality disorder lies "on the border" of classical psychotic
disorders.
Abstract Teaser