Since the introduction of international psychiatric classification systems, systematic diagnostic methods have become available for personality disorders. Recent developments in the dimensional diagnostic approach of personality disorders have yielded relationships between this type of disorders and neurobiological processes including both monoaminergic and stress-hormonal systems. It is hypothesized that the pathogenesis of borderline personality disorders is related to an enhanced serotonergic tone in septo-hippocampal structures. Preliminary clinical data are suggestive for potential therapeutic effects of serotonin-modulating compounds in borderline personality disorders
