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The considerable heterogeneity of symptomatology in persons with borderline personality disorder (BPD) has led some to suggest the existence of subtypes within this diagnosis. However, no study to date has examined subtypes according to differences in interpersonal functioning, despite the central role of interpersonal problems in the BPD diagnosis. The interpersonal problems of 95 patients with BPD were investigated using the German version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, a self-report measure based on a circumplex model of interpersonal functioning. Data were analyzed by means of cluster analysis. The results supported the existence of two distinct subtypes of persons with BPD, labeled "autonomous" and "dependent." Four-month longitudinal assessment indicated that these types were stable over time, suggesting the categorization reflected trait, as opposed to state, patterns of interpersonal behavior. Implications of these findings for future research and management of BPD are discussed.

The Dissociation-Tension-Scale acute (DSS-acute) is conducted as a self-rating instrument to assess present-time dissociative features. In addition, the level of aversive inner tension is assessed. The study validates the psychometric quality of the DSS-acute. The sample included 195 female probands. Internal consistency is high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.94). The same is true for split-half reliability according to Gutmann (r = 0.93). The DSS-acute correlates high with scales assessing similar constructs but differs from global scales. The DSS-acute discriminates well between different diagnostic groups. There exist first evidences for being a sensitive instrument for assessing changing symptomatology. The DSS-acute is a reliable and valid instrument to assess present-time dissociative experiences as well as aversive inner tension. Current studies should further proof the sensitivity for changing symptomatology.

The considerable heterogeneity of symptomatology in persons with borderline personality disorder (BPD) has led some to suggest the existence of subtypes within this diagnosis. However, no study to date has examined subtypes according to differences in interpersonal functioning, despite the central role of interpersonal problems in the BPD diagnosis. The interpersonal problems of 95 patients with BPD were investigated using the German version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, a self-report measure based on a circumplex model of interpersonal functioning. Data were analyzed by means of cluster analysis. The results supported the existence of two distinct subtypes of persons with BPD, labeled "autonomous" and "dependent." Four-month longitudinal assessment indicated that these types were stable over time, suggesting the categorization reflected trait, as opposed to state, patterns of interpersonal behavior. Implications of these findings for future research and management of BPD are discussed.