The borderline syndromes of depression, mania and schizophrenia: the coaxial or temperamental approach

Abstract

When analyzing the diagnostic position of "neurosis", Akiskal found it clinically meaningless because it lacks sufficient phenomenological characterization. In contrast, Tyrer found it meaningful because it explains the heterogeneity of neurotic symptoms. The diagnostic position of "borderline" has been treated analogically by Akiskal and Tyrer. Thus, Tyrer uses the term borderline in a very broad and general sense, while Akiskal again has found it without sufficient phenomenological characterization. Hence, the DSM-III concept of borderline personality disorder includes the temperament borders of affective disorders (melancholic, choleric and sanguine). A closer look at the Tyrer concept of neurosis places it within the melancholic temperament. The choleric temperament covers cyclothymia and the sanguine temperament the subclinical manifestations of mania. The term borderline personality disorders should, then, be restricted to cover the phlegmatic temperament or mild degrees of the schizophrenic spectrum disorders, which is in accordance with ICD-10.