Outpatient group psychotherapy: A valuable continuation treatment for patients with borderline personality disorder treated in a day hospital?: A 3-year follow-up study

Abstract

Our objective was to investigate, in a naturalistic, prospective study, the follow-up status of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) treated with a combination of day treatment and subsequent outpatient group psychotherapy (G-group, n=12) and compare their status with that of patients with BPD treated in the same day hospital but without subsequent outpatient group therapy (Non-G-group, n=31). At follow-up an average of 34 months after discharge from the day hospital, the G-group patients had a moderate impairment in global health (HSRS), a low level of symptoms (GSI), a low rate of rehospitalization and suicide attempts, and a high rate of remission from substance use disorders. Compared with the Non-G-group, the G-group patients had a significantly higher HSRS and a significantly lower GSI at follow-up. In multivariate analyses controlling for background and treatment variables, number of months in work last year before admission and outpatient group therapy predicted a better HSRS at follow-up. Outpatient group therapy contributed significantly to a lower GSI, and percentage time on medication during the follow-up period contributed significantly to a higher GSI at follow-up. The results support the clinical experience that a treatment model combining day treatment and outpatient group psychotherapy may be favorable for selected patients with BPD.