Borderline Personality Disorder Test (BSL-23)

Assesses core symptoms associated with borderline personality disorder over the past week.

The BSL-23 asks about emotional intensity, self-image, and impulse control over just the past week, giving you a quick pulse-check rather than a lifetime label. You'll get a symptom-intensity score in the same bands clinicians and researchers use to track borderline-related symptoms over time.

Clinical screening — not a diagnosis. Answer based on the past two weeks unless stated otherwise.

Question 1 of 50%

Think back over recent days — the quiet stretches after work, sitting alone in a room, or moments when nothing much was happening. I felt empty inside.

What This Assessment Measures

The BSL-23 measures the intensity of core borderline personality symptoms — emptiness, anger, loneliness, emotional volatility, and desperation — over the past seven days. Developed by Bohus and colleagues in 2007 as a shorter version of the original 95-item BSL, it's used in clinical and research settings to track symptom change over time, and it's best suited for anyone who has noticed a pattern of intense, fast-shifting emotions and wants language for what they're experiencing.

Research background. The BSL-23 (Bohus et al., 2007) is a validated self-report measure for borderline symptom severity with strong reliability. Learn more from the NIMH or APA.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does my BSL-23 score mean?

Your total reflects how intensely you've experienced core borderline-related symptoms in the past week, not a personality diagnosis. Higher scores mean these experiences have felt more frequent or severe recently.

Does a high score mean I have borderline personality disorder?

No. Only a licensed clinician can diagnose BPD, using structured interviews and DSM-5 criteria alongside your history. This screen flags symptom intensity worth discussing, not a standalone diagnosis.

How is the BSL-23 scored?

This version totals your ratings across five core items, each scored 0 (not at all) to 4 (very strong), for a combined intensity score. The full clinical version uses 23 items, so clinicians may present your number slightly differently.

What should I do if I scored in the moderate or high range?

Bring your results to a therapist experienced in DBT (dialectical behavior therapy), which was developed specifically for this symptom pattern and has strong evidence behind it.

How often should I retake the BSL-23?

Weekly is common when you're actively in treatment and tracking whether skills or therapy are reducing symptom intensity, since the questions only look back seven days.

Why does the BSL-23 only ask about the past week?

Emotional intensity in this symptom pattern can shift quickly, so a short window gives a more accurate current snapshot than asking you to average over months.

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Educational use only. This assessment on Ask.Dr is for self-reflection and learning — not a medical diagnosis, treatment plan, or emergency service. If you are in crisis, contact local emergency services or, in the US, call or text 988. Explore more tools on the tests hub or read articles on the blog.

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4 min · 5 questions