A study of borderline personality disorder from the viewpoint of ego functions.

Twenty-eight Borderline Personality Disorder patients (BPD) (by DSM-III-R) were compared with 19 neurotic patients by consulting clinical charts and an interview. The clinical features and ego functions were examined. The results brought this conclusion: (1) Disorders of ego functions of BPD covered a wide range, and were especially noted in object relations. Brief psychotic experiences, depressive experiences, and impulsiveness were the characteristics of the clinical features of BPD. An examination chiefly from the viewpoint of ego functions brought two more conclusions: (2) BPD could be partly included in the schizophrenia spectrum and the affective disorder spectrum, (3) BPD can be divided into two: (a) A Core Group with impulsiveness, (b) A Serious Group with impulsiveness, and brief psychotic experiences and/or depressive experiences.