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Distinguishing between ICD-11 complex post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder: clinical guide and recommendations for future research

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2023

Thanos Karatzias Open the ORCID record for Thanos Karatzias [Opens in a new window] ,
Martin Bohus ,
Mark Shevlin Open the ORCID record for Mark Shevlin [Opens in a new window] ,
Philip Hyland ,
Jonathan I. Bisson Open the ORCID record for Jonathan I. Bisson [Opens in a new window] ,
Neil Roberts  and
Marylène Cloitre
Thanos Karatzias*
Affiliation:
School of Health & Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK; and NHS Lothian, Rivers Centre for Traumatic Stress, Edinburgh, UK
Martin Bohus
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany; Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; and McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Mark Shevlin
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Ulster University, Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Philip Hyland
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland
Jonathan I. Bisson
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
Neil Roberts
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; and Psychology and Psychological Therapies Directorate, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UK
Marylène Cloitre
Affiliation:
National Center for PTSD Dissemination and Training Division, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA; and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
*
Correspondence: Thanos Karatzias. Email: t.karatzias@napier.ac.uk
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Summary

Although complex post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder are distinct disorders, there is confusion in clinical practice regarding the similarities between the diagnostic profiles of these conditions. We summarise the differences in the diagnostic criteria that are clinically informative and we illustrate these with case studies to enable diagnostic accuracy in clinical practice.

Keywords

Comorbidityeducation and trainingpersonality disorderspost-traumatic stress disordertrauma
Type
Analysis
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 223 , Issue 3 , September 2023 , pp. 403 - 406
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Copyright
Copyright © Edinburgh Napier University, 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists

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