What is the evidence for and against viewing borderline ...

[erika]

What is the evidence for and against viewing borderline personality disorder (BPD) as a distinct disorder?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What are the similarities and differences between schizoid personality disorder and schizotypal personality disorder?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[xiazhe]

Answer to Question 1

The idea that borderline personality disorder is distinct is based in part on evidence that it breeds true--relatives of those with borderline personality disorder are more likely to share this diagnosis than are family members of those with other personality disorders. Also, people with borderline personality disorder tend to keep the diagnosis throughout life, without developing a different or more serious condition such as schizophrenia. However, there is also evidence suggesting that borderline personality disorder is not distinct. About half of those with BPD also have a mood disorder, along with a family history of mood disorder. Diagnostic reliability is low because the characteristics of BPD overlap with other personality disorders. For example, some researchers have been unable to distinguish borderline personality disorder from histrionic personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.

Answer to Question 2

Both are characterized by shallow emotions, few close relationships, and poor social skills. Schizotypal behavior is also characterized by perceptual and cognitive peculiarities and oddities of speech.

[erika]

Thank you

[xiazhe]

No problem