Patterns of short-term course in patients treated in a day unit for personality disorders

• Published in: Comprehensive psychiatry Vol. 39; no. 2; pp. 75 - 84
• Main Authors: Wilberg, T, Friis, S, Karterud, S, Mehlum, L, Urnes, Ø, Vaglum, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cohort Studies; Day Care, Medical; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Institution therapy. Inpatient treatment; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Norway; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); Personality Disorders - classification; Personality Disorders - psychology; Personality Disorders - rehabilitation; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Quality of Life; Rehabilitation, Vocational; Retreatment; Treatments; Norway; Human; Evolution; Treatment; Day hospital; Personality disorder; Prediction
• ISSN: 0010-440X; 1532-8384
• DOI: 10.1016/S0010-440X(98)90082-7

The objectives of the study were (1) to explore differences in the course for patients treated in a day unit specializing in personality disorders (PDs), and (2) to determine characteristics of patients with different courses and predictors of various courses. K-mean cluster analysis was applied to partition a sample of 128 patients, 101 with various PDs and 27 with axis I disorders only, into four groups representing different courses. The course was defined on the basis of global functioning (Health Sickness Rating Scale [HSRS]) at admission, discharge, and 3-years follow-up evaluation. The four courses were labeled good, fair, late improvement, and poor, demonstrating great variation in the short-term course among patients with PDs. Predictors were studied by means of polychotomous logistic regression using the patients with a fair course as the reference group. The dichotomy no PD/cluster C versus cluster A/B predicted a good versus a fair course. A poor work status the last year before admission and irregular discharge predicted a poor or late improvement course versus a fair course, also when controlling for PD clusters. None of the included variables discriminated between patients with a poor versus late improvement course.