TREATMENT RESPONSE OF BORDERLINE INPATIENTS - A GROWTH CURVE ANALYSIS

This study examined the course of 40 hospitalized female borderline pe rsonality disorder patients over 25 weeks of inpatient treatment. Cour se was measured through weekly administration of the SCL-90-R. Level o f identity and interpersonal problems, hypothesized by Kernberg to be at the center of the borderline patient's pathology, were found to be powerful predictors of treatment course. Patients with the most severe identity and interpersonal problems reported more symptoms throughout treatment and increasing symptom levels over time. This was very diff erent from patients with the lowest level of identity and interpersona l problems, who reported fewer symptoms overall and decreasing symptom s over time.