Aversive tension in patients with borderline personality disorder: a computer-based controlled field study.

Objective: This study was designed to examine the subjective appraisal of aversive tension under conditions of daily life in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Method: A sample of 63 female subjects with BPD and 40 mentally healthy controls were each given a hand-held computer. For two consecutive days, participants were prompted at hourly intervals to record their current state of aversive tension and prompting events.