Olanzapine for the treatment of borderline personality disorder: variable dose 12-week randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study.
BACKGROUND
Despite the prevalence and clinical significance of borderline personality disorder, its treatment remains understudied.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate treatment with variably dosed olanzapine in individuals with borderline personality disorder.


METHODS
In this 12-week randomised, double-blind trial, individuals received olanzapine (2.5-20 mg/day; n=155) or placebo (n=159) (trial registry: NCT00091650). The primary efficacy measure was baseline to end-point change on the Zanarini Rating Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder (ZAN-BPD) using last-observation-carried-forward methodology.


RESULTS
Both olanzapine and placebo groups showed significant improvements but did not differ in magnitude at end-point (-6.56 v. -6.25, P=0.661). Response rates (50% reduction in ZAN-BPD) were 64.7% with olanzapine and 53.5% with placebo (P=0.062); however, time to response was significantly shorter for olanzapine (P=0.022). Weight gain was significantly greater (2.86 v. -0.35 kg, P<0.001), with higher incidence of treatment-emergent abnormal high levels of prolactin for the olanzapine group.


CONCLUSIONS
Individuals treated with olanzapine and placebo showed significant but not statistically different improvements on overall symptoms of borderline personality disorder. The types of adverse events observed with olanzapine treatment appeared similar to those observed previously in adult populations.
Schulz
S Charles
SC
Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. scs@umn.edu
Zanarini
Mary C
MC
Bateman
Anthony
A
Bohus
Martin
M
Detke
Holland C
HC
Trzaskoma
Quynh
Q
Tanaka
Yoko
Y
Lin
Daniel
D
Deberdt
Walter
W
Corya
Sara
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine