A prototype of borderline personality organization

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This study, awarded the Hamburger Fellowship Persönlichkeitsstörungen 2006, addresses the complexities of diagnosing personality disorders, which is crucial for effective treatment. It explores the classification of personality pathology through Otto Kernberg's psychoanalytic theory, which introduces a dimensional model that categorizes personality based on levels of psychic structure. The Structured Interview of Personality Organization (STIPO), developed by Clarkin, Caligor, Stern, and Kernberg in 2004, assesses key domains such as Identity, Primitive and Advanced Defenses, Reality Testing, Object Relations, Moral Values, and Aggression. Using STIPO domain scores, a prototypical profile of Borderline Personality Organization (BPO) was created, which effectively distinguishes between clinically different groups and shows strong psychometric properties. This BPO prototype operationalizes Kernberg's theory, emphasizing the construct of identity. The study details the interview process and illustrates its application through individual cases. Overall, the BPO prototype and STIPO serve as essential tools for clinicians and researchers in diagnosing personality pathology and informing treatment strategies.