Estimating the prevalence of borderline personality disorder in the community

Abstract

The authors use a new diagnostic algorithm derived from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (the DIS/Borderline Index) to identify a borderline personality disorder among 19- to 55-year-olds at the Duke site of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area project. A criterion score of 11 or more symptoms from the 24-item DIS/Borderline Index identifies 1.8% of the sample. The borderline diagnosis is significantly higher among females, the widowed, and the unmarried; and there is a trend toward the diagnosis in younger, non-White, urban, and poorer respondents. Extensive psychiatric comorbidity and high use of mental health services are found in the borderline group.