Borderline intellectual functioning: an update

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) is a V-code classification, not a formal psychiatric disorder.
• Historically, BIF was considered a sub-type of intellectual disability (ID) before changes in diagnostic criteria.
• The use of BIF is prevalent in forensic settings, often treated as a distinct disorder.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical context and current status of Borderline Intellectual Functioning (BIF).
• To evaluate the proposition of upgrading BIF to a formal psychiatric disorder.
• To consider eliminating BIF by integrating it into the Intellectual Developmental Disorder (IDD) category.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of historical and current classifications of BIF and IDD.
• Analysis of diagnostic criteria changes in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).
• Commentary on the clinical and forensic implications of BIF classification.

Main Results:

• Full-scale IQ is an outdated concept; executive functioning measures are increasingly prioritized for IDD diagnosis.
• The DSM-5 definition of BIF no longer specifies an IQ score range.
• BIF's status evolved due to changes in the IQ ceiling for IDD.

Conclusions:

• BIF is a descriptive V-code, not a typical psychiatric category.
• The article argues against elevating BIF to a formal disorder.
• The authors recommend discontinuing the BIF category, suggesting its integration into IDD.