Long-term changes in borderline symptoms of patients after client-centered group psychotherapy

In a follow-up study the long-term changes of borderline symptomatic of 14 patients with the diagnosis borderline personality disorder (criteria by Kernberg and Rorschach test) are compared with 13 patients with diagnosis schizophrenia and 16 patients with diagnosis depression (each case according to ICD-9 criteria). The Diagnostic Interview for Borderline Patients (DIB) is evaluated to comprehend the structure and kinds of borderline symptoms before and 4 years after treatment. Borderline patients are treated in a setting of client-centred group psychotherapy (twice a week, approximately 100 sessions). The treatment of the patients joining the control group is based on clinical standard. As a result all patients reduced the borderline-like symptoms. However, the most significant changes can be seen in the borderline group. 2 out of 14 borderline patients still fulfill the DIB Criteria of borderline personality disorder. Nevertheless, there are differences in the reduction of specific categories of borderline symptoms. The greatest changes are in the categories "loss of impulse control" and "psychotic episodes", whereas there are only slight improvements in the category "interpersonal relationships".