title: Borderline Personality in the Medical Setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Individuals with borderline personality disorder in mental health settings tend to present with relationship difficulties, mood instability/dysphoria, and overt self-harm behavior. In contrast, it appears that individuals with borderline personality disorder in medical settings manifest physical symptoms that are medically difficult to substantiate. Through a review of the literature, we examine 2 symptom manifestations among patients with borderline personality in primary care and general medical settings-namely pain sensitivity and multiple somatic complaints. In addition to reviewing the research of others, we also highlight our own investigations into these 2 areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a literature search of the PubMed database and a previous version of the PsycINFO search engine (no restrictions). Search terms included borderline personality, borderline personality disorder, personality disorders; chronic pain, pain, pain syndromes; and somatization disorder, Briquet's syndrome, somatic preoccupation, somatic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published articles related to borderline personality, pain and somatic symptoms (ie, somatization disorder, somatic preoccupation) were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to our review, the literature indicates higher-than-expected rates of borderline personality disorder among patients in primary care and general medical settings who present with chronic pain conditions and/or somatic preoccupation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unlike patients with borderline personality disorder in mental health settings, who tend to present with relationship difficulties, mood instability/dysphoria, and overt self-harm behavior, patients with borderline personality disorder in primary care settings tend to present with unsubstantiated chronic pain of various types as well as somatic preoccupation.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine, Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio, and Psychiatry Education, Kettering Medical Center, Kettering, Ohio (Dr R. A. Sansone); and Family Health Clinic, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio (Dr L. A. Sansone).
authors.forename: Randy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sansone
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine, Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio, and Psychiatry Education, Kettering Medical Center, Kettering, Ohio (Dr R. A. Sansone); and Family Health Clinic, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio (Dr L. A. Sansone).
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Sansone