Examining sex differences in DSM-IV borderline personality disorder symptom expression using Item Response Theory (IRT)

Objective: Residential patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder were evaluated to determine whether borderline personality disorder-focused psychotherapy reduced prescribing, personality disorder and co-morbid symptom severity. Method: Psychotropic prescriptions were measured at admission, discharge and 1 year later in 74 female participants with one or more personality disorder diagnosis and co-morbid mood disorders. Changes in pharmacotherapy were examined in the context of improvements in borderline personality disorder and/or co-morbid disorder symptom severity. Residential treatment included individual and group psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV was used to confirm the borderline personality disorder diagnosis and associated co-morbid conditions. The Beck Depression Inventory was completed at each time point. Results: A significant reduction in the incidence and severity of self-rated depression as well as clinician assessed personality disorder, including borderline personality disorder, was accompanied by a reduction in prescription of psychoactive medications. Conclusions: Three to six months of intensive borderline personality disorder-specific psychotherapy showed lasting benefit with regard to symptom severity of personality disorders (borderline personality disorder in particular) as well as depressive symptoms. This improvement corresponded with a reduction in prescriptions for psychoactive medications, which is consistent with current thinking regarding treatment for borderline personality disorder.

Download Full-text

Comparison of Three Questionnaires to Screen for Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000279 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 123-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Anne van Alebeek ◽

Paul T. van der Heijden ◽

Christel Hessels ◽

Melissa S.Y. Thong ◽

Marcel van Aken

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Borderline Personality Disorder ◽

Personality Disorder ◽

Borderline Personality ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Patient Questionnaire ◽

Statistical Manual ◽

Axis Ii ◽

Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽

Dsm Iv

Abstract. One of the most common personality disorders among adolescents and young adults is the Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The objective of current study was to assess three questionnaires that can reliably screen for BPD in adolescents and young adults (N = 53): the McLean Screening Instrument for BPD (MSI-BPD; Zanarini et al., 2003 ), the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire 4th edition – BPD scale (PDQ-4 BPD; Hyler, 1994 ), and the SCID-II Patient Questionnaire – BPD scale (SCID-II-PQ BPD). The nine criteria of BPD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV; APA, 1994 ) were measured with the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II disorders – BPD scale (SCID-II; First, Spitzer, Gibbon, Williams, & Benjamin, 1995 ). Correlations between the questionnaires and the SCID-II were calculated. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaires were tested. All instruments predicted the BPD diagnosis equally well.

Download Full-text

Supplemental Material for DSM-5 Alternative Personality Disorder Model Traits as Maladaptive Extreme Variants of the Five-Factor Model: An Item-Response Theory Analysis

Journal of Abnormal Psychology ◽

10.1037/abn0000035.supp ◽

2015 ◽

Keyword(s):

Item Response Theory ◽

Personality Disorder ◽

Item Response ◽

Factor Model ◽

Five Factor Model ◽

Response Theory ◽

Theory Analysis ◽

Dsm 5 ◽

Item Response Theory Analysis

Download Full-text