Subtypes of borderline personality disorder in a day-clinic setting-Clinical and therapeutic differences.

Abstract

This preliminary study aims at extending existing empirical evidence on subtypes of borderline personality disorders (BPDs) by identifying subtypes among patients with BPD, comparing their characteristics to the trait domains of the dimensional model of the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11; World Health Organization [WHO], 2022), and examining differences in sociodemographic, clinical, and therapeutic outcome variables. Data of N = 109 patients were subjected to cluster analysis based on the International Personality Disorder Examination variables for BPD and analyzed regarding differences in clinical and therapeutic variables. Clustering suggested a three-cluster solution, namely, internalizing (n = 35), externalizing (n = 28), and mixed subtype (n = 46). Subtypes showed differences in clinical variables and therapeutic outcomes with the internalizing showing more affective disorders and the mixed subtype showing the lowest therapeutic change in borderline-specific symptoms. Together, the present results correspond to the model of the ICD-11 (WHO, 2022). Clinical and treatment implications are being discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).