Identification of borderline personality disorders among substance abuse inpatients

By means of a structured interview procedure, individuals with borderline personality disorders were identified among a sample of 50 patients admitted to an inpatient substance abuse treatment program. When given a series of psychological tests, borderline patients were shown to be more pathological than a nonborderline group of substance abusers in a number of areas including depression, impulse control, antisocial tendencies and reality testing. Time spent in treatment was also shorter for the borderline group. Implications for substance abuse treatment programs and the potential impact of these patients on such programs is discussed.