Cited by 770Personality Disorders and PsychopathologyPersonality Traits and PsychologyBipolar Disorder and Treatment

Ten-Year Course of Borderline Personality Disorder: Psychopathology and Function From the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study

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Gunderson, John G.·2011·Archives of General Psychiatry

Abstract

CONTEXT: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is traditionally considered chronic and intractable. OBJECTIVE: To compare the course of BPD's psychopathology and social function with that of other personality disorders and with major depressive disorder (MDD) over 10 years. DESIGN: A collaborative study of treatment-seeking, 18- to 45-year-old patients followed up with standardized, reliable, and repeated measures of diagnostic remission and relapse and of both global social functioning and subtypes of social functioning. SETTING: Nineteen clinical settings (hospital and outpatient) in 4 northeastern US cities. PARTICIPANTS: Three study groups, including 175 patients with BPD, 312 with cluster C personality disorders, and 95 with MDD but no personality disorder. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders and its follow-along version (the Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders-Follow-Along Version) were used to diagnose personality disorders and assess changes in them. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders and the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation were used to diagnose MDD and assess changes in MDD and in social function. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of patients with BPD remitted. Remission of BPD was slower than for MDD (P < .001) and minimally slower than for other personality disorders (P < .03). Twelve percent of patients with BPD relapsed, a rate less frequent and slower than for patients with MDD (P < .001) and other personality disorders (P = .008). All BPD criteria declined at similar rates. Social function scores showed severe impairment with only modest albeit statistically significant improvement; patients with BPD remained persistently more dysfunctional than the other 2 groups (P < .001). Reductions in criteria predicted subsequent improvements in DSM-IV Axis V Global Assessment of Functioning scores (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The 10-year course of BPD is characterized by high rates of remission, low rates of relapse, and severe and persistent impairment in social functioning. These results inform expectations of patients, families, and clinicians and document the severe public health burden of this disorder.

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  1. [49]McGlashan TH Paris J Implications of outcome research for the treatment of borderline personality disorder BPD: Etiology and Treatment Washington, DC American Psychiatric Press 1993 235 259

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Authors
Gunderson, J. G.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Gunderson, John G.
Venue
Archives of General Psychiatry
Published
2011-08-01
Volume
68
Issue
8
Pages
827
ISSN
0003-990X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2107582521
Cited by
770
References
72
Citations by year
2026: 33 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 48 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 82 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 66 · 2017: 56 · 2016: 49 · 2015: 56 · 2014: 63 · 2013: 53 · 2012: 36
FWCI
54.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Archives of General Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH 73708, R01MH50850, R01 MH 50837, K23MH073708, R01 MH 01654, R01 MH 080221, R01MH050838, K23MH080221, R01MH050837, R01 MH 50839, R01MH050840, R01MH050839, R01MH050850, R01 MH 50838, R01 MH 50840, K23MH069904, R01 MH 69904, K05MH001654)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
Keywords
borderline personality disorder, long-term course, remission, relapse, social functioning, personality disorders, cluster C personality disorders, major depressive disorder, Global Assessment of Functioning, treatment-seeking patients
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Borderline Personality Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Personality Disorders, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Recurrence, Remission, Spontaneous, Social Behavior, Disease Progression, Kaplan-Meier Estimate

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