Hallucinations in patients with borderline personality disorder: a brief review of reviews

Objective

The aim of this narrative review is to briefly summarise the main findings from the existing review articles on the clinical interconnections between borderline personality disorder and hallucinations, in order to provide greater insight on this complex psychopathological issue.

Method

The PubMed electronic database was searched for articles published up to June 19, 2025. Search terms included: (“borderline personality disorder”) AND (“hallucination” or “hallucinations”). Advanced filters were applied to identify specific article types: Meta-Analysis, Network Meta-Analysis, Review, Scoping Review, and Systematic Review.

Results

Thirteen review articles (7 literature reviews, 5 systematic reviews, and 1 state-of-the-art review) were analysed. The main findings, clinical recommendations, and future directions from each review article are summarised.

Conclusions

Taxonomic and diagnostic tools should acknowledge the frequent occurrence of psychotic symptoms in BPD. In fact, a better understanding of psychotic phenomena – particularly hallucinations – can help clinicians address the psychopathological complexities of this interconnection more effectively. Further evidence-based research on psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and noninvasive brain stimulation methods is needed to optimize treatment for patients with BPD.