%0 Journal Article
%A Orio Aparicio, Cristina
%A López Escribano, María Del Carmen
%A Bel Fenellos, María Cristina
%T Borderline intellectual functioning: a scoping review
%D 2025
%@ 0964-2633
%U https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/133041
%X Background: Borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) is a condition that involves limitations in cognitive skills that affect the daily functioning of people who present it. BIF has lost visibility in diagnostic manuals such as the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11, which relegate it to complementary categories of aspects requiring attention, rather than recognising it as a category of its own. This lack of recognition as well as unclear criteria for diagnosis underscores the need for a deeper understanding of BIF. Method: The study conducted a scoping review to map the available evidence in the field of BIF. Following the PRISMA-ScR framework, ProQuest, WoS, SCOPUS and EBSCOhost databases were searched. Documents were selected based on inclusion criteria: date of publication (since 2012), study of BIF as a specific group and language (English or Spanish). A total of 138 documents were included, both academic and grey literature. Results: The review mapped the literature into key categories: intellectual functioning, adaptive functioning and additions for a comprehensive evaluation. Most research focused on comorbid psychiatric, emotional and behavioural disorders associated with BIF, as well as cognitive aspects. Very few addressed adaptive functioning explicitly, a crucial area for diagnosing and supporting individuals with BIF, though many covered its domains (conceptual, social and practical). Studies predominantly used quantitative methodologies, with only a few incorporating qualitative methods and directly involving people with BIF. Conclusions: The review emphasises the need for a clearer definition of BIF. Future studies should incorporate the perspectives of individuals with BIF to fully understand their needs and challenges across various life domains.
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