title: Recognizing borderline personality disorder in the family practice setting.
abstract: The first step in the management of borderline personality disorder is making the correct diagnosis. A clinical example illustrates symptoms of a patient with borderline personality disorder in a family practice setting. Major characteristics of borderline personality disorder include severe mood instability, fear of abandonment, chronic boredom, self-injury, unstable interpersonal relationships, "splitting," identity instability and borderline rage. Early diagnosis may help prevent potential management problems and possible doctor-patient conflicts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatric Medicine, University of Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hubbard
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Saathoff
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bernardo
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Barnett
mesh_terms: D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis