What is the difference in having borderline traits and an actual borderline personality?

Question

What is the difference in having borderline traits and an actual borderline personality?

Answer 1

If a clinician indicates a client has borderline "traits", it usually boils down to the client not technically meeting the criteria for diagnosis (client could be under 16, for example), but displaying all/most of the signs that clinicians strongly associate (whether rightly or wrongly) with BPD (e.g., manipulative behavior, self-injury, impulsivity, black-and-white thinking, mood lability).

~M~

Answer 2

That just means someone has some of the symptoms of not all of them.

Maybe the person has volatile relationships with other people and appears to have an intense fear of being abandoned, but doesn't seem to have the self-image problems, impulsiveness, and rapidly shifting moods that are usually indicated for a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder.

It's possible to have traits of any personality disorder without having the full personality disorder.  

Answer 3

In order to be diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder you must meet certain critera from the DSM-IV-TR.  www.borderlinepersonalitytoday.com/main/...

Usually if you do not make the critera a doctor will give you a diagnosis of Personality Disorder, Not otherwise specified or simply traits of a specific personality disorder that most describe you.