The persistence of borderline personality disorder in adolescence

Abstract

The stability of borderline personality disorder in adolescents is quite uncertain. To determine the persistence of the borderline personality disorder (BPD) and of separate borderline symptoms in adolescents, a follow-up study was conducted of hospitalized adolescents with (n = 14) and without (n = 22) BPD, according to the diagnostic interview for borderline patients (DIB). Of the 14 borderline adolescents, only two cases were again classified as BPD after 3 years, but some of the separate borderline symptoms were still present. In the nonborderline group, no new borderline cases were found after 3 years.