Research Studies on the effectiveness of Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder.

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These studies demonstrate the effectiveness of various treatments for borderline personality disorder, including cognitive-behavioural therapy, mentalization-based treatment, and dialectical behaviour therapy. They also provide information on the long-term course of the disorder and its impact on psychosocial functioning.

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1) Linehan, M. M., Armstrong, H. E., Suarez, A., Allmon, D., & Heard, H. L. (1991). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of chronically parasuicidal borderline patients. Archives of General Psychiatry, 48(12), 1060-1064. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1991.01810360024003

Linehan et al. (1991) found that cognitive-behavioral treatment was effective in reducing parasuicidal behavior in patients with borderline personality disorder, compared to treatment as usual.

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2) Clarkin, J. F., Levy, K. N., Lenzenweger, M. F., & Kernberg, O. F. (2007). Evaluating three treatments for borderline personality disorder: a multiwave study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164(6), 922-928. doi: 10.1176/ajp.2007.164.6.922

Clarkin et al. (2007) evaluated three treatments for borderline personality disorder: transference-focused psychotherapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and supportive psychotherapy. They found that all three treatments led to significant improvement in symptom severity, but transference-focused psychotherapy was most effective in reducing suicidality and improving interpersonal functioning.

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3) Bateman, A. W., & Fonagy, P. (2008). 8-year follow-up of patients treated for borderline personality disorder: mentalization-based treatment versus treatment as usual. American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(5), 631-638. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07040636

Bateman and Fonagy (2008) conducted an 8-year follow-up study of patients treated for borderline personality disorder with mentalization-based treatment versus treatment as usual. They found that mentalization-based treatment led to significant improvements in symptom severity, social functioning, and quality of life, compared to treatment as usual.

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4) Gunderson, J. G., Stout, R. L., McGlashan, T. H., Shea, M. T., Morey, L. C., Grilo, C. M., Zanarini, M. C., Yen, S., Markowitz, J. C., Sanislow, C., & Skodol, A. E. (2014). Ten-year course of borderline personality disorder: psychopathology and function from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 71(10), 1046-1054. doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2014.1313

Gunderson et al. (2014) studied the 10-year course of borderline personality disorder in a sample of patients from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study. They found that symptom severity and psychosocial functioning improved over time, and that recovery was associated with younger age, less severe symptoms, and better social functioning.

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5) Zanarini, M. C., Frankenburg, F. R., Reich, D. B., Fitzmaurice, G., & Weinberg, I. (2012). The 10-year course of psychosocial functioning among patients with borderline personality disorder and axis II comparison subjects. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 125(3), 232-242. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2011.01791.x

Zanarini et al. (2012) examined the 10-year course of psychosocial functioning in patients with borderline personality disorder and compared it to a group of patients with other personality disorders. They found that patients with borderline personality disorder had significantly worse psychosocial functioning over time than patients with other personality disorders.

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These are just a few examples of the research supporting the effectiveness of approaches to BPD treatment. There is a growing body of literature in this area, and many therapists continue to use these methods to help clients with BPD and other mental health issues.

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Overall, these studies suggest that various treatments, including cognitive-behavioural therapy, transference-focused psychotherapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, and mentalization-based treatment, can be effective in improving symptom severity, reducing suicidality, and improving psychosocial functioning in patients with borderline personality disorder. However, recovery is a slow process, and patients with borderline personality disorder may continue to experience impaired psychosocial functioning over time.

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If you would like to talk to someone about BPD symptoms and start working towards feeling better, get in touch.

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Please Note: Borderline Personality Disorder is a medical diagnosis. If you have been diagnosed or suspect you may have a medical conditions, you should consult your GP for advice, diagnosis and treatment and always inform your health professional before starting any alternative or additional therapies or treatments. 

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