The following "test" may help you to evaluate the possibility that you or a loved one has borderline disorder. It is simply a check list of the nine criteria of borderline disorder as defined by the American Psychiatric Association in their diagnostic manual, DSM-IV-TR. However, it is reworded so that you may readily apply the criteria to your situation.
Please note that you should not use the results of the test to arrive at any fixed conclusion, but rather to provide you with an estimation of the possibility that this disorder, or its traits, may exist.
How to Use the Borderline Disorder Test
First, read carefully about the
symptoms of borderline disorder provided on this website, or as they are described in more detail in my book,
Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified.
Next,
print this page and place a check mark next to those symptoms or behaviors listed below that you believe accurately describes your condition. If you are in doubt, leave the item blank.
The Borderline Disorder Test
| ___ |
1) My emotions change very quickly, and I experience intense episodes of sadness, irritability, and anxiety or panic attacks. |
| ___ |
2) My level of anger is often inappropriate, intense and difficult to control. |
| ___ |
3) I suffer from chronic feelings of emptiness and boredom. |
| ___ |
4) I engage in two or more self-damaging acts such as excessive spending, unsafe and inappropriate sexual conduct, substance abuse, reckless driving, and binge eating. |
| ___ |
5) Now, or in the past, when upset, I have engaged in recurrent suicidal behaviors, gestures, threats, or self-injurious behavior such as cutting, burning or hitting myself. |
| ___ |
6) I have a significant and persistently unstable image or sense of my self, or of who I am or what I truly believe in. |
| ___ |
7) I have very suspicious ideas, and am even paranoid (falsely believe that others are plotting to cause me harm) at times; or I experience episodes under stress when I feel that I, other people or the situation is somewhat unreal. |
| ___ |
8) I engage in frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment by people who are close to me. |
| ___ |
9) My relationships are very intense, unstable, and alternate between the extremes of over idealizing and undervaluing people who are important to me. |
How to Score the Borderline Disorder Test
Score of five or greater:
If you have checked five or more items on the above list, you may have borderline disorder. In order to determine if this is the case, you will require an evaluation by a psychiatrist or mental health care clinician who is well trained and experienced in borderline disorder.
Score of one to four:
If you have checked one to four items on the above checklist, you may have borderline disorder traits. Depending on the level of severity of your symptoms or behaviors, and the amount of disruption that they cause you, your family, friends and others, you may require an evaluation by a psychiatrist or mental health care clinician who is well trained and experienced in borderline disorder.
It is important to realize that you do not have to meet five or more criteria of borderline disorder for these symptoms to significantly disrupt your life. You may still benefit greatly from appropriate
treatment.
For more information on professional help, click here > 
