title: The 10-year course of PTSD in borderline patients and axis II comparison subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The first objective is to detail the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over a decade of follow-up for those in both study groups. The second is to determine time-to-remission, recurrence, and new onset of PTSD, and the third is to assess the relationship between sexual adversity and the likelihood of remission and recurrence of PTSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The SCID I was administered to 290 borderline in-patients and 72 axis II comparison subjects during their index admission and re-administered at five contiguous 2-year follow-up periods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of PTSD declined significantly over time for patients with borderline personality (BPD) (61%). Over 85% of borderline patients meeting criteria for PTSD at baseline experienced a remission by the time of the 10-year follow-up. Recurrences (40%) and new onsets (27%) were less common. A childhood history of sexual abuse significantly decreased the likelihood of remission from PTSD, and an adult history of sexual assault significantly increased the likelihood of a recurrence of PTSD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, the results of this study suggest that PTSD is not a chronic disorder for the majority of borderline patients. They also suggest a strong relationship between sexual adversity and the course of PTSD among patients with BPD.
authors.affiliation: McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA. zanarini@mclean.harvard.edu
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zanarini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hörz
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Frankenburg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weingeroff
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fitzmaurice
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology