The outcomes of home treatment for borderline personality disorder

Abstract

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex and severe mental disorder that manifests as a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships and self-image, mood disturbance, impulsive behaviours and repeated self-injury, and dissociation or quasi-psychotic experiences. 1,2 It is also associated with substantial impairment of social, psychological and occupational functioning and quality of life. 2 People with BPD are particularly at risk of suicide, with completed suicide occurring in 8-10% of individuals with this disorder, a rate that is approximately 50 times higher than the general population. 1 BPD is the most common personality disorder seen in clinical settings. It is present in 10% of out-patient mental health clinics, 15-20% of psychiatric in-patients, and 30-60% of clinical populations with a personality disorder. It occurs in an estimated 2% of the general population and has an estimated gender ratio of more than 3:1 for women/men.