title: Treating co-occurring first-episode psychosis and  borderline personality: a pilot randomized  controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  First-episode psychosis and borderline personality disorder are severe mental disorders that have their onset in youth. Their co-occurrence is clinically well recognized, is associated with significant risks and is complex to treat. Yet, there is no published specific intervention for this problem. This study reports a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing combined specialist first-episode treatment plus specialist early intervention for borderline personality, entitled Helping Young People Early, with specialist first-episode treatment alone. We aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of adding early intervention for borderline personality.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study investigated the safety of specialist first-episode treatment plus specialist early intervention for borderline personality in relation to deterioration in psychosis, aggression, self-harm and suicidality, and feasibility in relation to the completion of therapy phases. Sixteen patients meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition-Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria for first-episode psychosis and borderline personality (four or more DSM-IV criteria) were randomized either to specialist first-episode treatment alone or specialist first-episode treatment plus specialist early intervention for borderline personality and were followed up at the end of treatment and 6 months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that it was feasible to recruit and assess a high risk and complex group of patients who were agreeable to study participation. Specialist first-episode treatment plus specialist early intervention for borderline personality was an acceptable and safe treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A larger-scale randomized controlled trial of early intervention for borderline personality for young first-episode psychosis patients with co-occurring full or subsyndromal borderline personality is warranted.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy, Australia. john.gleeson@acu.edu.au
authors.forename: John F M
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gleeson
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chanen
authors.forename: Sue M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cotton
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McCutcheon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*