OUTPATIENT GROUP-PSYCHOTHERAPY - A VALUABLE CONTINUATION TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH BORDERLINE PERSONALITY-DISORDER TREATED IN A DAY HOSPITAL - A 3-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Our objective was to investigate, in a naturalistic, prospective study , the follow-up status of patients with borderline personality disorde r (BPD) treated with a combination of day treatment and subsequent out patient group psychotherapy (G-group, n=12) and compare their status w ith that of patients with BPD treated in the same day hospital but wit hout subsequent outpatient group therapy (Non-G-group, n = 31). At fol low-up an average of 34 months after discharge from the day hospital, the G-group patients had a moderate impairment in global health (HSRS) , a low level of symptoms (GSI), a low rate of rehospitalization and s uicide attempts, and a high rate of remission from substance use disor ders. Compared with the Non-G-group, the G-group patients had a signif icantly higher HSRS and a significantly lower GSI at follow-up. In mul tivariate analyses controlling for background and treatment variables, number of months in work last year before admission and outpatient gr oup therapy predicted a better HSRS at follow-up. Outpatient group the rapy contributed significantly to a lower GSI, and percentage time on medication during the follow-up period contributed significantly to a higher GSI at follow-up. The results support the clinical experience t hat a treatment model combining day treatment and outpatient group psy chotherapy may be favorable for selected patients with BPD.