Understanding the phenomenology of borderline personality disorder from the patient’s perspective.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Guidelines and clinical practice focuses on behavioural symptoms of borderline personality disorder, yet other experiences are more persistent and detrimental to psychosocial function. It is unclear how this relates to the experience of individuals with the diagnosis. AIMS: To understand more about phenomenology of borderline personality disorder from the patient's perspective. METHODS: We interviewed nine people with a borderline personality disorder from specialist services in South London, UK. The data were analysed using a phenomenological qualitative method. RESULTS: Individuals experienced frightening perceptual changes that were rationalised in meaningful ways. Participants related their intense experiences to their families, finding them both protective and burdensome. CONCLUSIONS: The results illuminate contradictory behaviours, offering content for clinical interventions. Particularly, this study has provided some novel perspectives about suicidality and interactions with family and friends.
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Black et al. (2014) describe tensions between working to stay present to experiences and disappearing for oneself through dissociation and suicidal fantasies.
“They describe tensions between working to stay present to experiences and disappearing for oneself through dissociation and suicidal fantasies.”
From Moving toward connectedness – a qualitative study of recovery processes for people with borderline personality disorder (2019) · cites this paper as Black et al., 2014
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- Authors
- Black, G., Murray, J., & Thornicroft, G.
- Affiliations
- University College London (GB)
- King's College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Black, Georgia
- Venue
- Journal of Mental Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2014-04
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 78-82
- ISSN
- 0963-8237 (ISSN-L)
- 1360-0567
- OpenAlex
- W2025682226
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 1.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Mental Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (NF-SI-0611-10053)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Mental Health and Psychiatry
- Keywords
- borderline personality disorder, phenomenology, patient experience, suicidal ideation, family relationships, psychosocial functioning, lived experience
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Borderline Personality Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Young Adult, Suicidal Ideation
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