The therapeutic community method of treatment for borderline personality disorder

Cornah D, Stein K, Stevens A
Record ID 31998008885
English
Authors' objectives:

The authors evaluate how effective the therapeutic community approach is for treating borderline personality disorder, a "dramatic-erratic" personality disorder.

Authors' results and conclusions: Treatment effects are difficult to summarise given the heterogeneity of the client group and methodological problems. Clinically significant improvements have been reported in up to 40% of clients, including changes in psychometric test performance, reduction in deliberate self-harm, fewer hospital admissions (but increased outpatient service use) and reduced criminal behaviour.
Authors' recommendations: There have been no randomised controlled trials of the approach. Observational studies show potentially important clinical effects which may be associated with some savings to secondary care and prison services, although the validity of these findings remains open to some doubt. Importantly, it remains impossible to conclude which people would be expected to benefit. The authors conclude that the treatment's validity is not proven.
Authors' methods: Review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.wihrd.soton.ac.uk
Year Published: 1997
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: England
MeSH Terms
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Mental Disorders
  • Mental Health Services
  • Therapeutic Community
Contact
Organisation Name: Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development
Contact Address: Pauline King. Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development, Boldrewood Medical School, Bassett Crescent East, Highfield, Southampton. SO16 7PX Tel. +44 1703 595661 Fax +44 1703 595662
Copyright: Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development (WIHRD)
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