Key themes in recent research on interpersonal functioning in borderline personality disorder

Purpose of review We provide an overview of new ideas and directions of research on interpersonal functioning in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Recent findings We highlight the following key themes emerging in recent and ongoing research: investigation of the cognitive and motivational mechanisms which underpin impairments of interpersonal functioning in BPD, tracking BPD across the lifespan with earlier interventions and longitudinal studies, expansion of the scope of interest to family members of individuals with BPD and to people in the general population with levels of BPD traits, and investigating BPD online, not only by using internet-based testing platforms but also by studying the social media use of individuals with BPD. The concise discussion of recent research on BPD provided here, together with the identification of key themes emerging from this work, provides a snapshot of ongoing work devoted to better understanding interpersonal functioning in borderline personality disorder.