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ICD-10 criteria for Schiz

1. Characteristic symptoms: Two or more of the following, each present for much of the time during a one-month period (or less, if symptoms remitted with treatment).

2. Delusions

3. Hallucinations

4. Disorganized speech, which is a manifestation of formal thought disorder

5. Grossly disorganized behavior (e.g. dressing inappropriately, crying frequently) or catatonic behavior

6. Negative symptoms: Blunted affect (lack or decline in emotional response), alogia (lack or decline in speech), or avolition (lack or decline in motivation)

7. If the delusions are judged to be bizarre, or hallucinations consist of hearing one voice participating in a running commentary of the patient’s actions or of hearing two or more voices conversing with each other, only that symptom is required above. The speech disorganization criterion is only met if it is severe enough to substantially impair communication.

8. Social or occupational dysfunction: For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of functioning such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care, are markedly below the level achieved prior to the onset.
Significant duration: Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least six months. This six-month period must include at least one month of symptoms (or less, if symptoms remitted with treatment).
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I’ve worked with them. They can’t organize the way this man could. No blunted affect. He is spitting on doors and guards. He may have delusions but that’s not strictly Schiz. Lots of disorders have delusions. But the big thing is the timeline. If he didn’t have any symptoms before this, he is not Schiz.

ICD-10 criteria for BPD

1. frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.

2. a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.

3. identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.

4. impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating). Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.

5. recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior

6. affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).

7. chronic feelings of emptiness

8. inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)

9. transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms

The DSM IV goes on to say:

The essential feature of Borderline Personality Disorder is a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts.
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His mother had a bumpersticker from a group which supports those who self-mutilate and if the bio on the hook-up site is actually him, he lists himself with a small penis. Dying his hair red was not to make him look like the “Joker” (who’s hair is green). It’s part of this disorder.

Trust me. BPD is a very dangerous disorder. People can function for a very long time before they blow. They are a little weird but functional. The kind of needy person who was “quiet and didn’t bother anyone”. Then you find out he had an ex-whatever who was trying to avoid him.