About
The McLean screen, explained plainly
The McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD) is a ten-item yes/no questionnaire used as a brief BPD screening instrument in research and clinics—not a diagnostic tool.
What is the MSI-BPD?
The MSI-BPD is a short self-report screen that asks about patterns associated with borderline personality disorder, such as unstable relationships, fear of abandonment, mood swings, anger, identity confusion, emptiness, dissociation, and self-harm. It flags whether further clinical evaluation may be worthwhile.
Who developed it
The instrument was developed and validated by Mary C. Zanarini and colleagues at McLean Hospital. The primary validation paper was published in the Journal of Personality Disorders (Zanarini et al., 2003).
What it is used for
Clinics and researchers use the MSI-BPD as a brief screen to identify adults who may benefit from a fuller assessment. It is not designed to confirm or rule out a diagnosis on its own.
Who it is for
Adults who want to explore whether BPD-related experiences fit their history—unstable relationships, fear of abandonment, mood swings, emptiness, or self-harm—before talking with a clinician.
The 10-question structure
Each item is answered Yes or No. Themes commonly group into interpersonal instability, affective dysregulation, identity disturbance, and impulsivity (including self-harm). This site shows a theme breakdown to support reflection—not to diagnose.
Scoring and the common cutoff
Each yes counts as 1 point (maximum 10). In the original validation study, a score of 7 or higher was used as the screening threshold. Other studies and populations may use different cutoffs. A score below 7 does not rule BPD out.
Limitations
Self-report screens can be affected by mood, trauma history, and how you interpret items. Symptoms overlap with bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, depression, and anxiety. Online self-administration differs from supervised research settings. Always treat the result as a screening signal.
How we write health content
Our editorial team explains the McLean MSI-BPD screen in plain language. We cite published validation research (such as Zanarini et al., 2003) and public agency pages like NIMH for diagnosis and treatment context. We do not invent named clinical reviewers we do not have. Articles are educational—not a substitute for care from a licensed clinician.
Deeper guides
Important disclaimer
MSI-BPD Screen is educational only. It cannot diagnose borderline personality disorder and must not be used alone to obtain or deny care. If you are in crisis, contact emergency services.