Group therapy for adults with Axis II disorders

The success of the program was assessed through a decrease in severity and frequency of borderline personality disorder symptoms and a decrease in the severity of global psychiatric symptoms, and improved global function. [...] Statistical analyses of the outcome measures showed that, when compared to the control group, the experimental group demonstrated a greater decrease in severity and frequency of symptoms, as well as a greater improvement in global function at both the end of the treatment and six months afterwards. [...] The same pattern was found with the Diagnostic Interview for Borderline Personality Disorders-Revised scores; more patients in the experimental group scored below the threshold for diagnosing borderline personality disorder based on the Diagnostic Interview for Borderline Personality Disorders (15 of 16 patients in the experimental group compared to three of 12 patients in the control group; Odds [...] The authors cautioned that the lack of improvement in the control group patients may in part be explained by the lack of borderline personality disorder specialization in individual psychotherapy in the community. [...] The control group was enrolled in a standard group therapy that focused on patients sharing their difficulties and the therapists were the conductor in group interactions.