The Instrument: MSI-BPD
Our BPD test is based on the McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD), developed by Mary C. Zanarini and colleagues in 2003.
What It Measures
The MSI-BPD screens for the nine DSM criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder:
- Fear of abandonment — Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment
- Unstable relationships — Pattern of intense, unstable interpersonal relationships
- Identity disturbance — Unstable self-image or sense of self
- Impulsivity — In at least two potentially self-damaging areas
- Suicidal behavior — Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or self-harm
- Emotional instability — Affective instability and mood reactivity
- Chronic emptiness — Persistent feelings of emptiness
- Anger — Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger
- Dissociation/Paranoia — Transient stress-related paranoid ideation or dissociation
Validation & Reliability
The MSI-BPD was developed and validated at McLean Hospital, a leading psychiatric facility:
- Sensitivity: 81% — correctly identifies most people with BPD
- Specificity: 85% — correctly identifies most people without BPD
- Cutoff Score: 7+ endorsements suggests possible BPD
- Validation Sample: 150 patients with various personality disorders
The MSI-BPD is widely used in clinical settings for initial screening before comprehensive diagnostic interviews.
Academic Citations
- 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. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi.17.6.568.25355
- Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford Press.
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.
- Gunderson, J. G. (2009). Borderline personality disorder: Ontogeny of a diagnosis. American Journal of Psychiatry, 166(5), 530-539. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.08121825
- Zanarini, M. C. (2009). Psychotherapy of borderline personality disorder. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 120(5), 373-377. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2009.01448.x
Limitations
While the MSI-BPD is a validated screening tool, it has important limitations:
- Screening Only: A positive screen requires comprehensive clinical evaluation
- Self-Report Bias: Results depend on honest self-assessment
- Symptom Overlap: BPD symptoms can overlap with bipolar disorder, PTSD, and other conditions
- Stigma Considerations: BPD is a treatable condition; screening should lead to help, not labels
BPD diagnosis requires comprehensive evaluation by a qualified mental health professional, typically using structured clinical interviews.
Clinical Disclaimer: This screening tool is for educational purposes only and does not diagnose Borderline Personality Disorder. Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose BPD through comprehensive clinical evaluation. If you're struggling with emotional regulation or relationship difficulties, please seek professional support.