BORDERLINE PERSONALITY-DISORDER - OFFICE DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT (REPRINTED FROM DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL-DISORDERS, PG.347, 347

The management of patients with borderline personality disorder may be difficult, because these patients often make disproportionate demands on the physician's time and they tend to experience complicated and/or incomplete recovery from organic or functional illness. Histories of patients with this disorder reveal a host of self-destructive behaviors, often including suicide attempts. The diagnosis of borderline personality disorder can be confirmed using an adaptation of the Diagnostic Interview for Borderline Patients. A neutral, structured environment and a conservative medical approach can facilitate the management of these challenging patients.