Exploring the Pathways to Diagnosis for Men With Borderline Personality Disorder: A Qualitative Study

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is often perceived as being more common in females, since women are more likely to seek help and be diagnosed. However, epidemiological studies have reported no sex differences in community prevalence. The purpose of this study was to learn from the narrative journeys of men who have received a diagnosis of BPD. Eight men participated, mean age 45.9 years (range 27-73 years). Recruitment was through clinician referrals at the study site and via social media and website advertising. Participants consented to a 60-90-min semi-structured interview via an audio-visual digital platform. Audio recordings were transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Three themes were identified: (i) The Emergence of Symptoms, (ii) Reaching Crisis Point and (iii) Receiving a Diagnosis. Participants reported many adverse experiences during childhood and adolescence. Early symptoms were often exacerbated by emotionally invalidating caregiving. Participants reported seeking mental health support only after reaching a crisis point, which often arose following an employment-related stressor. Participants typically initiated help-seeking by consulting a General Practitioner. Long delays were reported from initial help-seeking to being diagnosed with BPD; all expressed relief upon diagnosis. The findings highlight the deleterious consequences of emotional invalidation in participants' mental health and their capacity to access timely support. General Practitioners play a critical role in identifying probable symptoms of BPD in men and are the gateway to referral to psychiatrists and psychologists. It is vital that education is provided to assist their important work.