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Outcomes of poorly functioning patients with personality disorders in a day treatment program
T Wilberg1, S Karterud, O Urnes
1Division of Psychiatry, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. theresa.wilberg@psykiatri.uio.no
Objective:
Rates of completion, complications, and outcome were examined in a sample of poorly functioning patients who participated in a group-oriented day treatment program for patients with personality disorders.
Methods:
The study was a naturalistic prospective study of 183 patients admitted to a day treatment program in Oslo, Norway. The program consists of a combination of group analytically oriented groups and cognitive-behavioral groups. The Global Severity Index (GSI) of the Symptom Check List, the circumplex version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-C), and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) were administered at admission and discharge.
Results:
A total of 138 [corrected] patients (77 percent) completed the day treatment program. Few patients experienced treatment complications. Effect sizes for GAF, GSI, and IIP-C scores for treatment completers were in the medium-to-high range, indicating a fair level of improvement. Patients' rating of benefit was positive.
Conclusions:
The results are promising as a first step toward development of a cost-efficient comprehensive long-term treatment program for patients with severe personality disorders.