Borderline Symptom List – 23
BSL-23Borderline Personality Disorder Symptom Severity
23 items
2009
α 0.94–0.97
Free
Bohus, M., Limberger, M.F., Frank, U., Chapman, A.L., Kühler, T., & Stieglitz, R.D.
Clinical safeguarding note: Mean score (range 0–4) is the standard metric. Freely available from Martin Bohus. Widely used as the primary outcome in DBT randomised controlled trials. The BSL-23 Supplementary scale (11 additional items) captures behaviours like self-harm and substance use separately. Sensitive to change over 1–2 weeks.
What it measures
A brief, sensitive measure of the core symptom burden of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) covering affect dysregulation, self-perception disturbances, autodestructive tendencies, and social isolation. Widely used as the primary outcome measure in DBT and schema therapy clinical trials. Sensitive to week-by-week change.
Response format
Likert (0–4, not at all to very strongly) over the past week; total 0–92; mean score 0–4
Representative items
- I felt helpless.
- I felt empty inside.
- I felt in a panic.
- I felt lonely, even when I was with other people.
- I felt as though I were watching myself from the outside.
Recommended companion scales
DERSPHQ-9ERQ
Citation
Bohus, M., Limberger, M.F., Frank, U., Chapman, A.L., Kühler, T., & Stieglitz, R.D. (2009). Psychometric properties of the Borderline Symptom List (BSL-23). Psychopathology, 42(6), 406–412.
Keywords
#borderlinepersonalitydisorder#BPD#DBT#affectdysregulation#self-harm#symptomseverity#clinical