The borderline personality organization in a dimensional perspective: the TCI and SWAP-200 in comparison.

Aim: The categorical assessment of personality disorders, in particular of the borderline personality disorder is being debated by most authors. This study focuses on the structural organization of personality, namely on Kernberg's borderline personality organization (BPO). It aims to explore the dimensional personality assessment and to test the convergence on this construct of two dimensional instruments: the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure (SWAP-200).

[Borderline pathology: follow-up study. Preliminary report].

The work is based on the frequent use of the term "borderline" in clinical practice, in spite of the fact that this word still tends to have a controversial and ambiguous meaning. Patients who were admitted to the Psychiatric Clinic at the University of Turin between 1974 and 1980 with diagnoses of borderline pathologies or marginal psychoneurosis were followed-up in the study. The subjects in question were reexamined after an interval of between 8 and 14 years (the majority between 10-12 years).

[Attitudes, knowledge and methods of assistance used by general practitioners in Novara in treating drug addicts. Study of 100 doctors].

The study examines the relationship between the general practitioner and the drug addict and aims to evaluate some aspects of the work of the health service, above all with reference to the methods of assistance, attitudes and knowledge relating to the problem of treating drug addicts. A questionnaire was sent to 100 general practitioners in Novara; it consisted of 15 questions relation to the doctor's opinion of the drug addict, the methods and place of intervention, the doctor's judgement regarding his/her own preparation and function, and the frequency of contact with drug addicts. The findings show that the majority of doctors have a positive attitude towards the problem, but that there is also a widespread feeling of impotency, dislike, loneliness, disinformation, and in addiction a feeling of educational inadequacy on the subject.