Impact of the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and its diagnostic process

Contrary to the long-held assumptions, borderline personality disorder (BPD) is now considered a treatable disorder. Timely assessment has been recognised as one of the key treatment enablers and basic assessment standards have been stipulated by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). The current study was the first to have specifically investigated the quality of the diagnostic process in light of the government recommendations.

Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse semi-structured interviews with eight adult female service users about their lived experiences with the original diagnostic disclosure of BPD.

Five master themes and several subthemes featured in the majority of the participants’ experience: a) answer with a question mark; b) if only…; c) BPD like a star sign; d) star signs are not enough; it’s what happens afterwards!; e) being at the mercy of the system.

Most participants’ experiences suggested that the original diagnostic process was largely negative and did not follow the national guidelines. Nevertheless, a minority of positive views also emerged. The findings are discussed with reference to the existing literature, whilst also detailing the study’s limitations, clinical and research implications.