Invited essay: Identity and borderline personality disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Disturbed identity is a core feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD).
• A universally accepted definition of identity and its disturbance remains elusive.
• Identity disturbance involves subjective states not easily assessed objectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a preliminary definition of identity.
• To delineate various levels, dimensions, and categories of identity.
• To describe essential elements of identity disturbance in BPD and connect them to other BPD symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis and definition of identity.
• Delineation of identity dimensions and categories.
• Description and integration of identity disturbance with other BPD features.

Main Results:

• A preliminary definition of identity is proposed.
• Identity is presented across different levels, dimensions, and categories.
• Key aspects of identity disturbance in BPD are described, including links to mentalization, relationships, behavior, memory, dissociation, and self-narratives.

Conclusions:

• Establishing a clear definition of identity is crucial for understanding BPD.
• Identity disturbance in BPD is multifaceted and interconnected with other core BPD symptoms.
• Further research into the subjective and objective aspects of identity in BPD is warranted.