Borderline personality disorder: diagnosis and management in primary care

Patients with borderline personality disorder frequently present to primary care physicians. However, the personality disorder, while complicating medical treatment, is often undetected. Symptoms and clinical presentations of this disorder are described. Common co-morbid psychiatric conditions associated with borderline personality disorder include depression and substance abuse. Physically self-damaging behaviors are also common among patients with this disorder. Guidelines for managing these patients in the hospital and ambulatory care clinic are provided.