Borderline Symptom List (BSL-23) Test

Understand borderline symptom severity in adults in about 5 minutes. With 23 focused items, it’s brief yet clinically useful for baseline screening and tracking change over time.

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Questions: 235 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

26,288 views

3,252 completions

2,558 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

2/4

Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms (BPDS)

Measures the severity of symptoms characteristic of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adults.

Low

Elevated

High

0 – 1.49: Low | 1.5 – 2.79: Elevated | 2.8 – 4: High

A score of 2 falls in the Elevated range, indicating an increased level of BPD-related symptoms compared with lower scores.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

People seeking clarity

46%OF USERS

Adults who notice intense emotions, unstable relationships, or impulsive behavior and want a quick sense of how severe these symptoms are.

Therapy progress trackers

34%OF USERS

People already in therapy or treatment who want to monitor whether their symptoms are improving or worsening over time.

Clinicians and trainees

20%OF USERS

Mental health professionals or students using a brief checklist to support assessment and guide follow-up discussions.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
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AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

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Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Symptoms of BPD (SoB)

Average

2.9

Normal range

2.2 — 3.6

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures the current severity of symptoms commonly associated with borderline personality disorder in adults. It covers areas such as emotion regulation, fears, identity disturbance, impulsivity, and interpersonal difficulties.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for adults who are being screened for symptom severity or monitored over time in clinical or research settings. It is not designed to assess children or adolescents.

How long does it take to complete?

Completion typically takes about 5 minutes. It includes 23 items.

How should responses be completed?

Select the response option that best reflects experiences during the specified time frame. Answer all items and use first impressions when unsure.

How should scores be interpreted?

Higher scores generally indicate greater symptom severity. Results should be interpreted by a qualified clinician and used alongside clinical interview and other relevant information.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

List of Symptoms of Borderline Disorder, BSL-23 Test

Borderline Symptom List (BSL-23) Test - Symptoms and Signs

borderline disorder psychopathology

This self-report measure is used to quickly quantify the severity of borderline personality disorder-related symptoms in adults. The Borderline Symptom List (BSL-23) provides a brief snapshot of current symptom burden and can support clinical screening and symptom monitoring over time.

It consists of 23 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. Items sample common domains associated with borderline personality pathology (e.g., affective instability, identity disturbance, interpersonal difficulties, and impulsivity). The Borderline Symptom List (BSL-23) is intended to complement, not replace, a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation; psytests.org (2024).

Author: psytests.org (2024)

Literature: Bohus, M., Kleindienst, N., Limberger, M. F., Stieglitz, R.-D., Domsalla, M., Chapman, A. L., Steil, R., Philipsen, A., & Wolf, M. The short version of the Borderline Symptom List (BSL-23): Development and initial data on psychometric properties. Psychopathology. 2009.

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