What is the clinical significance of chronic emptiness in borderline personality disorder?

The objective of this study was to review the clinical significance of the experience of chronic emptiness in borderline personality disorder (BPD). A systematic search of the literature was conducted using MEDLINE and PubMed, employing search terms including ‘emptiness’, ‘personality disorder’ and ‘borderline personality disorder’. The most relevant English-language articles and books were selected for this review. Published literature and clinical experience suggest that chronic emptiness represents a substantial component of the symptom burden experienced by people with BPD, contributes to functional impairment and may distinguish BPD from other disorders such as major depressive disorder. Further research will elucidate the significance of chronic emptiness with regard to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of BPD