CLINICAL CRITERIA AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER

Abstract

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is characterized by emotional instability, impulsivity, and significant impairment in interpersonal relationships, making its diagnosis challenging due to high symptomatic overlap with other mental disorders. This study aimed to synthesize scientific evidence on clinical criteria and psychopathological assessment used in BPD diagnosis. This is a narrative literature review conducted in the PubMed database using the descriptors Borderline Personality Disorder and Diagnosis, including articles published in the last five years in Portuguese and English languages. The analyzed studies showed a transition from categorical diagnostic models to dimensional approaches, such as the DSM-5 Alternative Model and ICD-11, as well as the importance of differential diagnosis in the face of frequent psychiatric comorbidities. Advances were also identified in understanding the psychopathological and neurobiological markers of the disorder, although these still lack routine diagnostic application. It is concluded that the integration of rigorous clinical assessment, dimensional models, and analysis of comorbidities contributes to greater diagnostic accuracy and favors the definition of more individualized therapeutic strategies.