BORDERLINE PERSONALITY-DISORDER - SYMPTOMATOLOGY AND MMPI CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

Using the Schedule for Interviewing Borderlines and the MMPI [Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory], 20 subjects diagnosed as borderline and/or schizotypal personality disorder were examined to determine whether having 1 diagnosis affected the likelihood of having the other, the amount of diagnostic overlap between the 2 diagnoses, and whether different MMPI profiles could be found. Some overlap but also some differentiation between the borderline and schizotypal disorders was indicated. The modest overlap in diagnostic criteria was consistent with other studies and justifies the continued separation of the 2 diagnoses. The MMPI may be used as an initial screen to identify persons who warrant further evaluation for a borderline personality disorder but would not be appropriate as a screen for a schizotypal personality disorder.