Large Variations of Global Functioning over Five Years in Treated Patients with Personality Traits and Disorders

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the long-term course of global functioning in patients with personality disorders (PD) and investigate predictors of variation. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) was repeated over five years in 352 patients with PDs of varying severity, all treated in psychotherapeutic day hospitals. Growth models were used for statistical analysis. Large variations in the long-term course of global functioning were evident in this clinical sample. At five-year follow-up, 46% reached a GAF-score above 60 with a mean GAF-score of 71. Their linear change-rate over the five years was estimated to be 4.4 GAF points per year. The average five-year GAF-score for the remaining subgroup (54%) was 50 and their linear yearly change-rate was 0.8 GAF points. Greater relief of symptom distress and interpersonal problems was typical of patients with functional improvement. The number of avoidant PD criteria was associated with slower functional change.

Large variation of severity and longitudinal change of symptom distress among patients with personality disorders

“…In the present sample, patients who lacked late assessments reported more severe baseline impairments (Kvarstein & Karterud, ). We found, however, no significant difference in longitudinal change between samples with the following: (1) 5‐year follow‐up assessments ( n = 382); (2) three or more assessments ( n = 570); and (3) the whole sample ( n = 751).…”

Mistrustful and Misunderstood: a Review of Paranoid Personality Disorder

“…Data from a large number of patients in intensive psychotherapeutic day treatment programs reveal that PPD is an important predictor of treatment failure and dropout (Karterud et al, 2003) [120]. This appeared to be true whether or not PPD occurred by itself, or comorbid with BPD [120]. …”

Personality Disorder in Childhood and Adolescence comes of Age: a Review of the Current Evidence and Prospects for Future Research

“…However, diagnostic remission does not necessarily imply functional recovery (69). Indeed, most adult patients with PD who have been followed up for years remain significantly functionally impaired (5,67,(70)(71)(72)(73). Persons displaying PD symptoms below the threshold for a categorical diagnosis are considered to have remitted diagnostically, but they might continue to have clinically significant levels of subthreshold personality pathology.…”