Abstract
There is a paucity of research literature regarding Indigenous people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). This review focuses on analyzing the contextual issues arising from such a diagnosis, particularly when applied to Indigenous Australians, and on the social and historical contexts which might facilitate a more accurate interpretation of the symptoms of BPD. The literature on historical and social contexts of Indigenous Australians was reviewed, with particular emphasis on alternative views of self and of collective trauma likely impacting upon the diagnoses. Table 1 compares the DSM-IV discussion of the nine symptoms with alternative contextual interpretations. This review serves as a starting point for finding more positive and effective ways of working with people who present with BPD symptoms, and providing more detailed and more culturally appropriate contexts in which to view individuals.
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This research was partially supported by grants from the Australian Research Council (ARC DP0877901) and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS G07/7290).
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Fromene, R., Guerin, B. & Krieg, A. Australian Indigenous Clients with a Borderline Personality Disorder Diagnosis: A Contextual Review of the Literature. Psychol Rec 64, 559–567 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-014-0059-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-014-0059-2