The latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), the widely-used American Psychiatric Association guide for clinicians seeking to diagnose mental disorders, defines Borderline Personality Disorder ("B.P.D." or BPD) as: a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image and affects, as well as marked impulsivity, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts.[1]. BPD is classed on "Axis II", as an underlying pervasive or personality condition, rather than "Axis 1" for more circumscribed mental disorders. A diagnosis of BPD requires, according to the DSM, five or more of the following to be present for a significant period of time:
--- from the DSM-IV-TR, 301.83.
The World Health Organization's ICD-10 has an equivalent diagnosis called Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder - Borderline type (F60.31). This requires, in addition to the general criteria for personality disorder: disturbances in and uncertainty about self-image, aims, and internal preferences (including sexual); liability to become involved in intense and unstable relationships, often leading to emotional crisis; excessive efforts to avoid abandonment; recurrent threats or acts of self-harm; chronic feelings of emptiness.
A commonly used mnemonic to remember some features of borderline personality disorder is PRAISE: