Notes on the potential differentiation of borderline conditions.
It is argued that the borderline personality organization as now conceived embraces a spectrum of differentiable diagnostic groupings. Lumping these diagnostic clusters under a single descriptive heading contributes to continuing conceptual ambiguities and theoretical confusion in the understanding of borderline psychopathology. A potential differentiation of borderline entities on clinical grounds is suggested. The bases for discrimination of higher-order borderline conditions versus lower-order conditions are explored. Current accounts of borderline pathology tend to focus on lower-order pathology as characteristic, but do not account for the full range of the borderline spectrum. Other potential discriminations between an hysterical continuum and an obsessional-schizoid continuum are explored. Differential diagnoses suggested include pseudoschizophrenia, psychotic character, borderline personality, and primitive hysteric in the hysterical continuum; schizoid personality, false-self organization, and as-if personality in the schizoid continuum. The syndrome of identity diffusion is also suggested as part of the borderline spectrum.
D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006677:Histrionic Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007063:Identity Crisis; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D011936:Reality Testing; D012043:Regression, Psychology; D012557:Schizoid Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D013475:Superego; D014167:Transference, Psychology