Borderline personality disorder and alcoholism treatment: a one-year follow-up study

One year following treatment, alcoholic patients with a documented borderline personality disorder were compared with alcoholic patients who did not show borderline personality features. Both groups of alcoholic patients showed significant and comparable decreases in alcohol use through the follow-up year. Nonborderline alcoholics showed significant decreases in drug use through the follow-up. Borderline alcoholics showed a significant decrease in drug use for the first 6 months of follow-up, with uncertain results thereafter. Borderline alcoholics also showed significant improvements in their ratings of satisfaction with family, decreased hospitalizations and greater leisure satisfaction. There were also trends toward improvements in their relations with children and self-ratings of health and a decrease in accidents. The study documents that alcoholic patients with severe character pathology can significantly benefit from treatment in a short-term psychiatrically oriented alcoholism treatment program.