The Difficult Road to Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder

For patients who have Borderline Personality Disorder, being symptom-free may not necessarily mean that they have achieved full recovery. The disorder affects about 2 percent of adults, and is characterized by instability in moods, relationships, behavior, and self-image.  Although there is currently no standard therapy for the disorder, most patients receive talk therapy and medication to help control its symptoms.

A large majority of patients who undergo treatment experience at least a 2-year symptom-free period. However, a team of researchers at the McLean Hospital have found that only half of the patients are able to achieve a full recovery.

The research team followed 290 people with borderline personality disorder, originally inpatients at McLean Hospital, to see how their condition changed over the course of a decade.

They found that only about 50 percent of patients achieved full recovery, which was defined as a reprieve from symptoms lasting at least 2 years, plus good social and vocational functioning. Of those that did reach this mark, about a third later redeveloped symptoms, or once again struggled socially or with their job.

The researchers believe that this might be because most treatments give more focus on eliminating the symptoms, and not enough on enabling the patients to deal with practical issues like making friends, and getting and keeping a job.

To find out more about the results of the study, read the full article here. One of the interventions that the researchers recommend is vocational counseling for patients. Do you have other ideas on how to best help recovering patients find friends and jobs? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.