Clinical significance of outcome in long‐term follow‐up of borderline patients at a day hospital

Abstract

All borderline patients admitted at a day hospital during a 6-year period were followed up with a postal questionnaire after 3-10 years. Patients who had chosen to leave the treatment within 4 months were analyzed as a separate group, and these drop-outs and the remaining patients were compared with a group of well-adjusted people who were assumed to represent the functional norm. The patients who remained in treatment were clearly posited at a level of functioning between the norm and the drop-outs, although the variation among them was quite large. Depending on the stringency and content of the criterion of clinical significance, 25-75% of the patients remaining in treatment fell within the range of the norm group versus 20-50% of the drop-outs. The patients who had benefited most since termination had differed favorably from the other patients already at admission to treatment, but not as much as had the drop-outs. The drop-outs, however, at admission also had more ambivalent or negative attitudes towards treatment.

Assessment of borderline pathology using the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems Circumplex Scales (IIP‐C): a comparison of clinical samples

“…These studies highlight the importance of a careful understanding of the interpersonal aspects of BP. Of additional importance is past research that has reported the importance of the therapeutic relationship with this specific clinical population (Cohen & Sherwood, 1989;Gunderson et al, 1989;Hilsenroth, Holdwick, Castlebury, & Blais, 1998 Koenigsberg, Carr, & Appelbaum, 1989;Sandell et al, 1993;Steiger & Stotland, 1996;Summers, 1999;Yeomans, Selzer, & Clarkin, 1993;Yeomans et al, 1994). As such, improved understanding of the interpersonal characteristics of BPD may help clinicians more effectively navigate the relational intricacies inherent to the development of an effective working alliance (see e.g., Gurtman, 1996).…”

The Course of Marriage/Sustained Cohabitation and Parenthood Among Borderline Patients Followed Prospectively for 16 Years

“…Of these 17 studies, only five provided data on rates of marriage/cohabitation (Grinker, Werble, & Drye, 1968; Modestin & Villiger, 1989; Links, Mitton, & Steiner, 1990; Sandell et al, 1993; Antikainen, Hintikka, Lehtonen, Koponen, & Arstila, 1995) and only one provided the rate of having children (Modestin & Villiger, 1989). Rates of marriage ranged from a low of 22% to a high of 54%, with a median of 37%.…”

The 10-Year Course of Social Security Disability Income Reported by Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder and Axis II Comparison Subjects

“…It was found that borderline patients (22%) were not significantly more likely than comparison subjects with other personality disorders (12%) to report being on disability after a mean of 4½ years of follow-up. Sandell et al (1993) found that 34% of borderline patients initially treated in a day hospital reported being on disability 3–10 years after their index admission.…”