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The 10‐year course of PTSD in borderline patients and axis II comparison subjects
Author(s) -
Zanarini M. C.,
Hörz S.,
Frankenburg F. R.,
Weingeroff J.,
Reich D. B.,
Fitzmaurice G.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2011.01717.x
Subject(s) - borderline personality disorder , sexual abuse , psychiatry , psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , injury prevention , poison control , environmental health
Zanarini MC, Hörz S, Frankenburg FR, Weingeroff J, Reich DB, Fitzmaurice G. The 10‐year course of PTSD in borderline patients and axis II comparison subjects. Objective: The first objective is to detail the prevalence of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over a decade of follow‐up for those in both study groups. The second is to determine time‐to‐remission, recurrence, and new onset of PTSD, and the third is to assess the relationship between sexual adversity and the likelihood of remission and recurrence of PTSD. Method: The SCID I was administered to 290 borderline in‐patients and 72 axis II comparison subjects during their index admission and re‐administered at five contiguous 2‐year follow‐up periods. Results: The prevalence of PTSD declined significantly over time for patients with borderline personality (BPD) (61%). Over 85% of borderline patients meeting criteria for PTSD at baseline experienced a remission by the time of the 10‐year follow‐up. Recurrences (40%) and new onsets (27%) were less common. A childhood history of sexual abuse significantly decreased the likelihood of remission from PTSD, and an adult history of sexual assault significantly increased the likelihood of a recurrence of PTSD. Conclusion: Taken together, the results of this study suggest that PTSD is not a chronic disorder for the majority of borderline patients. They also suggest a strong relationship between sexual adversity and the course of PTSD among patients with BPD.