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Moral responsibility and borderline personality disorder
1Wesley Psychiatric Consulting Rooms, 3 Dalmar Place, Carlingford, New South Wales 2118, Australia. brayam@zip.com.au
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
|June 5, 2003
Summary
Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) may retain moral responsibility despite impulsivity. However, severe symptoms like dissociation or psychosis can diminish accountability for actions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Philosophy
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Free will and moral responsibility are complex philosophical and legal concepts.
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by emotional dysregulation and impulsivity.
- The legal and ethical implications of BPD on an individual's capacity for responsible action require examination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the concepts of free will and moral responsibility within a psychiatric framework.
- To assess the extent to which individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) can be held morally responsible for their conduct.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review spanning psychiatry and philosophy.
- Development of criteria for assessing responsible action.
- Evaluation of BPD symptomology against established responsibility criteria.
Main Results:
- Impulsivity and mild dissociative symptoms in BPD do not necessarily negate moral responsibility.
- Severe dissociative episodes and psychotic symptoms can reduce the moral accountability of individuals with BPD.
- Co-occurring conditions associated with BPD can impact an individual's capacity for responsible behavior.
Conclusions:
- Moral responsibility in BPD is nuanced and influenced by symptom severity.
- Comorbid conditions play a significant role in modulating an individual's ability to act responsibly.
- Further research is needed to refine legal and ethical frameworks concerning BPD and accountability.