Psychological assessment of borderline personality disorder in geriatric patients

Psychological assessment to diagnose borderline personality disorder (BPD) in geriatric patients requires adaptation and consideration of age-related factors that impact assessment and interpretation, and differs from the approach taken with younger individuals. Psychological assessments need to be sensitive to age-graded differences because BPD in geriatric individuals can be clinically different compared to younger adults. This poses significant challenges with respect to the current diagnostic nosology and psychological measures available to diagnose BPD in geriatric individuals. In this chapter, recommendations and practical approaches to manage these challenges will be provided. Highlighted are two self-report personality measurement tools valid across the age span and recommended for use in geriatric BPD screening.