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One of the many controversies concerning the borderline personality disorder (BPD) diagnosis is whether the construct refers to a categorical or dimensional variable. The current study used Meehl's (1973) maximum covariance analysis to investigate this issue. The charts of 409 psychiatric inpatients were systematically reviewed for the presence of BPD and dysthymic symptoms. Charts of 244 inpatients were also reviewed to assess the presence of indicators of male sex, a categorical variable. The results for BPD and dysthymia were consistent with a dimensional model, whereas those for male sex were consistent with a categorical model. A dimensional model of classification of BPD is recommended, and suggestions for future research are provided.

The psychometric properties o f the Disability Rating Form, a new instrument for rating disability associated with severe mental illness, were examined. Therapists participating in a large-scale evaluation o f community-based crisis intervention services twice rated consumers with regard to their disability in five areas o f functioning using the Disability Rating Form. Analyses o f ratings on the five-item instrument revealed excellent item characteristics, stability o f item ratings over a 2-to 4-month interval, and consistency am ong items. Disability ratings were modestly associated with duration o f disability and w eakly associated with DSM-III-R diagnosis. Potential applications and limitations o f the instrument are discussed.

Women who become victims of sexual assault are at much higher risk than other women of being victimized again. Research has suggested that psychological processes initiated by sexual victimization, especially in childhood and adolescence, result in behaviors that can increase victims' exposure to potential offenders and make them more vulnerable to the tactics of the offenders they encounter.

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