Borderline and schizotypal disorders in children and adolescents.

Until recently, research on borderline disorder in children has sought the common denominator of the symptoms. In recent years there have been attempts to circumscribe the definition with the help of DSM-III criteria and the DIB. This approach appears fruitful. The scanty data on schizotypal children suggest that the validity of this diagnosis in childhood should be investigated. In adolescence it is possible to discern those with borderline and schizotypal disorders whose symptoms meet both DIB and DSM-III-R criteria respectively. No data exist, however, concerning the predictive validity of such disorders in adolescents. Classification on an empirical basis is advocated in order to refine the diagnosis of these and related disorders in children and adolescents.