Aripiprazole in the treatment of patients with borderline personality disorder: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
Aripiprazole is a relatively new atypical antipsychotic agent that has been successfully employed in therapy for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders. A few neuroleptics have been used in therapy for patients with borderline personality disorder, which is associated with severe psychopathological symptoms. Aripiprazole, however, has not yet been tested for this disorder, and the goal of this study was to determine whether aripiprazole is effective in the treatment of several domains of symptoms of borderline personality disorder.


METHODS
Subjects meeting criteria for the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders for borderline personality disorder (43 women and 9 men) were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to 15 mg/day of aripiprazole (N=26) or placebo (N=26) for 8 weeks. Primary outcome measures were changes in scores on the symptom checklist (SCL-90-R), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and were assessed weekly. Side effects and self-injury were assessed with a nonvalidated questionnaire.


RESULTS
According to the intent-to-treat principle, significant changes in scores on most scales of the SCL-90-R, the HAM-D, the HAM-A, and all scales of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory were observed in the subjects treated with aripiprazole after 8 weeks. Self-injury occurred in the groups. The reported side effects were headache, insomnia, nausea, numbness, constipation, and anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
Aripiprazole appears to be a safe and effective agent in the treatment of patients with borderline personality disorder.
Nickel
Marius K
MK
Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine, Inntalklinik, 84359 Simbach am Inn, Germany. m.nickel@inntalklinik.de
Muehlbacher
Moritz
M
Nickel
Cerstin
C
Kettler
Christian
C
Pedrosa Gil
Francisco
F
Bachler
Egon
E
Buschmann
Wiebke
W
Rother
Nadine
N
Fartacek
Reinhold
R
Egger
Christoph
C
Anvar
Javaid
J
Rother
Wolfhardt K
WK
Loew
Thomas H
TH
Kaplan
Patrick
P
D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D000786:Anger / Q000187:drug effects; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015363:Quinolones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D010919:Placebos; D015363:Quinolones; D000068180:Aripiprazole