title: Patterns of short-term course in patients treated in a day unit for personality disorders.
abstract: The objectives of the study were (1) to explore differences in the course for patients treated in a day unit specializing in personality disorders (PDs), and (2) to determine characteristics of patients with different courses and predictors of various courses. K-mean cluster analysis was applied to partition a sample of 128 patients, 101 with various PDs and 27 with axis I disorders only, into four groups representing different courses. The course was defined on the basis of global functioning (Health Sickness Rating Scale [HSRS]) at admission, discharge, and 3-years follow-up evaluation. The four courses were labeled good, fair, late improvement, and poor, demonstrating great variation in the short-term course among patients with PDs. Predictors were studied by means of polychotomous logistic regression using the patients with a fair course as the reference group. The dichotomy no PD/cluster C versus cluster A/B predicted a good versus a fair course. A poor work status the last year before admission and irregular discharge predicted a poor or late improvement course versus a fair course, also when controlling for PD clusters. None of the included variables discriminated between patients with a poor versus late improvement course.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wilberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karterud
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mehlum
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Urnes
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaglum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D019233:Retreatment