ILLNESS-DEFINING AS SOCIAL PROCESS BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER (MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY)

A study in the sociology of knowledge of the process by which social values are codified in the legitimization of a specific psychiatric diagnosis, Borderline Personality Disorder. One hundred and seventy-nine articles published in professional and scientific journals from 1919 through 1981 were examined using content and historical analysis to explore the social factors (including the use of expert knowledge and the political process) in the labeling, validation and official sanctioning of this diagnosis. The analysis revealed that the development of this relatively new psychiatric diagnosis reflected changes in illness-definitions, re-formulations of expert knowledge, changes in social process and incorporation of political, economic and social factors in legitimizing the diagnosis for third-party payments. Recommendations for further study include exploration of the perception that Borderline Personality Disorder as a diagnosis is more commonly applied to females and further study on the mechanisms by which social values are codified in the development and legitimization of illness-definitions.