Borderline personality disorder: Sex differences

Abstract

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of impulsivity, emotional instability, interpersonal dysfunction and disturbed self-image (American Psychiatric Association, 2013: refer to Table 12.1). The recently published DSM-5 rejected a proposed dimensional model of personality disorder (PD); the reasons for this decision are beyond the scope of this chapter. Consequently, DSM-5 retained the nine DSM-IV polythetic diagnostic criteria for BPD and these are reproduced in Table 12.1. A diagnosis is made when any five of these criteria are met. Despite retaining a categorical personality disorder (PD) diagnostic system in the DSM-5, ther..