A Systematic Review of Existential Concerns in Borderline Personality Disorder

Background: Existential philosophy and psychotherapy focuses on the givens of human experience, including feelings of meaninglessness, isolation, death anxiety, and concerns surrounding identity and freedom. Although borderline personality disorder (BPD) is arguably characterized by issues in a number of these domains, it has not been systematically examined through the lens of existential therapy. Method: The current systematic review included 37 articles which examined existential concerns in relation to BPD. Results: These articles highlighted the predominance of chronic identity and isolation-related concerns in BPD, as well as the potential role of meaning in buffering against the distress of BPD, such as suicidality and comorbid depressive features. Implications: The implications of existential phenomenological findings in the conceptualization of BPD, treatment and future existential research are discussed.

Automated summary

This systematic review examines the issues of borderline personality disorder (BPD) through the lens of existential therapy. The articles reviewed highlight the prevalence of identity and isolation-related concerns in BPD, as well as the potential role of meaning in buffering against the distress associated with BPD symptoms such as suicidality and comorbid depression.