E. Rosowsky et B. Gurian, IMPACT OF BORDERLINE PERSONALITY-DISORDER IN LATE LIFE ON SYSTEMS OF CARE, Hospital & community psychiatry, 43(4), 1992, pp. 386-389
Some symptoms that are bench-marks of borderline personality disorder
in the younger patient-identity disturbance, impulsivity, self-mutilat
ion, risk taking, and substance abuse-do not appear to define the diso
rder in late life. However, changes in the environment or social conte
xt of elderly persons may cause core symptoms to manifest differently.
Identity disturbance in old age may be evidenced by an inability to f
ormulate future plans or pursue goal-directed activities. Anorexia may
be a substitute for more obvious forms of self-mutilation. Elderly pa
tients with severe personality disorders may disrupt nursing homes and
other service delivery systems. The authors suggest that staff who wo
rk with these patients receive special training and that more research
is needed to identify which symptoms of personality disorders are mai
ntained into old age.