Based on the MSI-BPD
Free Borderline Personality Disorder Screening Test
A screening tool designed to help adults explore experiences associated with borderline personality disorder.
- Free
- No account required
- Quick results
- Private
- Screening only — not a diagnosis
Answer honestly—there are no right answers
Continue where you left off?
For each statement, choose Yes or No based on your experiences during adolescence and adulthood.
Your MSI-BPD Screening Result
Total score
0/10
Common screening threshold: 7
What this result means
Each “yes” adds one point (maximum 10). In the original MSI-BPD validation research, a total of 7 or higher was treated as a positive screen—a signal that a professional evaluation may be worthwhile, not a diagnosis.
Important limitation
A positive screening result does not mean that you have borderline personality disorder. Screening is not diagnosis: clinicians also review history, daily functioning, and overlapping conditions such as bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, depression, or anxiety.
This score is a screening signal, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified clinician can assess borderline personality disorder. Read disclaimer
Instrument: McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD). See Zanarini et al., 2003, Journal of Personality Disorders.
Suggested next steps
Your answers are processed locally in your browser. Privacy
What the MSI-BPD measures
The McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD) is a 10-item yes/no questionnaire designed to flag traits associated with borderline personality disorder in adults. It is widely used as a brief research and clinical screening tool—not a standalone diagnosis.
Each item asks about patterns such as unstable relationships, fear of abandonment, mood swings, anger, identity confusion, dissociation, emptiness, and self-harm. A positive screen means further evaluation may be worthwhile, not that you have BPD.
- Interpersonal instabilityconflictual relationships and frantic efforts to avoid abandonment.
- Affective dysregulationextreme moodiness and intense anger.
- Identity disturbanceemptiness, dissociation, and uncertainty about who you are.
- Impulsivitydeliberate self-harm or suicide attempts.
How MSI-BPD scores are interpreted
Each yes response counts as 1 point, for a maximum of 10. In the original validation study, a score of 7 or higher was used as the screening threshold for borderline personality disorder.
Zanarini et al., 2003 — Journal of Personality Disorders (PubMed)
Does not meet the commonly cited MSI-BPD cutoff, though individual items you endorsed may still be meaningful to discuss with a clinician.
Scores in this range often prompt a professional evaluation. Symptoms may overlap with bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, or depression—context matters.
You endorsed every item on this brief screen. Consider speaking with a mental health professional who can assess BPD and related conditions.
No single questionnaire is conclusive. Self-report screens can be affected by mood, trauma history, and how you interpret each item.
What to do with your result
Three short next steps—whether your score is high, low, or somewhere in between.
Frequently asked questions
The questions people most often ask before and after taking the MSI-BPD.
Start the testIs the MSI-BPD test accurate?
The MSI-BPD showed good sensitivity and specificity in validation studies, but accuracy drops outside controlled settings. Online self-administration and co-occurring conditions affect results. Treat your score as a signal worth investigating, not a verdict.
What is a good MSI-BPD score?
There is no good or bad score—only whether you meet the screening threshold. A total of 7 or more is commonly treated as an indication that a professional evaluation may be worthwhile. Below 7 does not rule BPD out on its own.
How long does the MSI-BPD take?
Most adults finish the 10 items in about 2 to 3 minutes. Your progress is saved in your browser, so you can close the tab and resume later on the same device.
Is this test free and anonymous?
Yes for the core screen: there is no account required, and scoring runs in your browser. Individual answers stay on your device (and may be saved in local storage so you can resume). If analytics are configured, only an aggregate completion event—score, theme totals, and language—may be sent, never your full answer list.
Can the MSI-BPD diagnose borderline personality disorder?
No. It is a screening instrument, not a diagnostic one. A formal diagnosis requires a qualified clinician who reviews history, functioning, and differential explanations such as bipolar disorder, PTSD, or complex trauma.
How is MSI-BPD different from a full BPD assessment?
The MSI-BPD is a brief screen with 10 items. Clinical assessment typically includes a structured interview, collateral history, and evaluation of how symptoms affect relationships, work, and safety over time.
Read before you decide what to do next
Guides on interpreting your score, understanding the threshold, and preparing for a clinical conversation.
- BPD Emotional Dysregulation: What Screening Can ShowWhat BPD emotional dysregulation means day to day, how it differs from a hard week, and what an MSI-BPD screen can—and cannot—tell you.
- BPD in Women: Patterns, Bias, and What Screening Can (and Cannot) SayWhy borderline personality disorder is often discussed in women, how stigma and bias shape recognition, and why an MSI-BPD screen is not a gendered diagnosis.
- BPD vs ADHD: Overlap, Differences, and Screening LimitsWhy borderline personality disorder and ADHD can look similar, how clinicians start to tell them apart, and why an online MSI-BPD screen cannot make the distinction for you.