Employment in borderline personality disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Vocational Rehabilitation

Background:

• Limited research exists on employment outcomes for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD).
• A systematic review identified only 11 studies published between 1983 and 2010 meeting inclusion criteria.
• Studies varied in sample size (8-249 participants) and recruitment settings (hospitals, outpatient, day treatment, college campus).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize existing literature on employment outcomes in patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
• To identify trends, limitations, and potential areas for intervention in vocational rehabilitation for this population.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search and review of studies published between 1983 and 2010.
• Inclusion criteria were applied to select relevant studies examining employment in individuals with BPD.
• Follow-up periods ranged from 1 to 27 years, with varied comparison groups (other psychopathology or normative).

Main Results:

• Nearly half of individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) were found to be unemployed at follow-up.
• A significant portion (20-45%) of unemployed individuals with BPD subsisted on disability benefits.
• Some studies indicated modest employment improvements, and one intervention program showed positive results.

Conclusions:

• Employment remains a significant challenge for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD).
• Findings suggest a need for targeted vocational rehabilitation strategies and further research.
• Intervention programs, such as work/school acclimatization, show promise for improving employment outcomes.