Public sector group treatment for severe personality disorder: a 12-month follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
The results of an evaluation of an innovative pubic sector treatment program for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) with a history of unsuccessful treatment attempts and severe self-harm are presented.


METHODS
DSM-IV axis I and axis II diagnoses, psychiatric symptoms, patterns of self-harm, suicidality, coping styles, and quality of life were assessed for 27 women who completed a 6-month residential program. Pre- and post-treatment assessments and a 12-month follow-up were undertaken.


RESULTS
At 12-month follow-up, significantly fewer participants met criteria for BPD. Significant post-treatment gains, including reduced levels of depression, anxiety and hopelessness, and improvements in some coping style and quality of life domains, were maintained at follow-up. The results in relation to self-harm indicated considerable within-sample variability.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicating clinically significant improvements in psychiatric symptoms and coping, along with mixed results in relation to self-harm and quality of life, are encouraging for the continued development of treatment services for this challenging patient group.
Hulbert
Carol
C
The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia. cah@unimelb.edu.au
Thomas
Rosemary
R
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D017150:Public Sector; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors