Treatment of patients with borderline personality disorder

Patients with BPD responded well on non-manualised psychotherapy. “Intent-to-treat” analysis` showed that 62% no longer met the criteria for BPD diagnosis at the end of therapy, and at 2 years follow-up after therapy this applied to 66% Moreover we found a significant development with great effect size on all outcomes (total BPD criteria, sum axis-II criteria, global assessment of functioning, interpersonal problems, and symptoms) both with therapy end and with 2 years follow-up. Drop-out during therapy was associated with having therapists of opposite sex, low work capacity (disability benefits, sick notes) and incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Conclusion: non-manual therapies with long duration can give better results than expected for patients with BPD. See publication nr.20. Nysaeter, T. E., Nordahl, H. M., & Havik, O. E. (2010). A preliminary study of the naturalistic course of non-manualized psychotherapy for outpatients with borderline personality disorder: patient characteristics, attrition and outcome. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 64, 87-93.