Borderline Personality Disorder Screening Test

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition characterized by intense emotions, unstable relationships, and challenges with self-image. This screening test can help you identify potential symptoms that may warrant professional evaluation.

⏱️ Estimated Time: 5-7 minutes

📋 Number of Questions: 20

🎯 Purpose: Screening for BPD symptoms based on clinical criteria

Important Notice: This test is a screening instrument and NOT a diagnostic tool. Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose Borderline Personality Disorder. If you’re experiencing distressing symptoms, please consult with a licensed therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. If you’re having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or seek immediate emergency help.

1. I often feel empty inside, like something important is missing from my life.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

2. I go to great lengths to avoid being abandoned or rejected by people close to me.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

3. My relationships are intense and unstable, swinging between idealization and disappointment.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

4. My sense of who I am changes frequently, and I’m unsure of my identity or values.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

5. I engage in impulsive behaviors that could be harmful (like reckless spending, substance use, risky driving, binge eating, or unsafe sex).

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

6. I have engaged in self-harm behaviors or had repeated thoughts about suicide.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

7. My emotions shift rapidly and intensely throughout the day, often lasting a few hours.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

8. I struggle with inappropriate or intense anger that’s difficult to control.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

9. During times of stress, I experience paranoid thoughts or feel disconnected from reality.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

10. People have told me that I see things as “all good” or “all bad” with little middle ground.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

11. I feel panicked when I think someone important to me might leave or abandon me.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

12. My opinions about myself shift dramatically, from feeling worthless to feeling superior.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

13. I make impulsive decisions without considering the consequences.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

14. My mood can change from fine to extremely upset in a matter of minutes.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

15. I have trouble controlling my temper and may lash out verbally or physically.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

16. I’ve had relationships where I quickly went from thinking someone was perfect to thinking they were terrible.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

17. I frequently feel like I don’t know who I really am or what I want in life.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

18. When stressed, I sometimes feel like things around me aren’t real or that I’m watching myself from outside my body.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

19. I engage in behaviors that hurt me or put me at risk when I’m upset.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

20. I have a persistent feeling of emptiness that doesn’t go away, even when things are going well.

Never or rarely true

Sometimes true

Often true

Very often or always true

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References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Gunderson, J. G., & Links, P. S. (2014). Handbook of Good Psychiatric Management for Borderline Personality Disorder. American Psychiatric Publishing.
Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. New York: Guilford Press.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Borderline Personality Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder
Zanarini, M. C., Vujanovic, A. A., Parachini, E. A., Boulanger, J. L., Frankenburg, F. R., & Hennen, J. (2003). A screening measure for BPD: The McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD). Journal of Personality Disorders, 17(6), 568-573.
Chapman, A. L. (2019). Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation: Insights from Developmental Psychopathology. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 15, 267-295.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Mental Health Treatment Locator. Retrieved from https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov