BORDERLINE PERSONALITY-DISORDER - A STUDY IN ADOLESCENCE

The study of the presentation, symptomatology and family characteristi cs of an exclusively adolescent sample of patients with borderline per sonality disorder (BPD) was undertaken. Twenty-four cases of borderlin e personality disorder, 20 females, 4 males, identified using chart re view and meeting the criteria of the Diagnostic Interview for Borderli nes (DIB) and DSM III-R, were matched with psychiatric controls. Adole scents with borderline personality disorder were found to have high ra tes of affective symptomatology with Axis I diagnosis of major depress ive disorder - MDD (DSM-III-R), and high rates of interpersonal psycho pathology, i.e., manipulation, devaluation, and a pervasive sense of b oredom. The latter seem to be characteristic as for adults with border line personality disorder. The families were particularly angry and vo latile.