We propose a 5-year (and final) renewal of the McLean Study of Adult Development (MSAD), the first large-scale, prospective study of the long-term course of borderline personality disorder (BPD). We will obtain a maximum of 20 years of follow-up data on 290 patients who met DIB-R and DSM-III-R criteria for BPD and 72 axis II comparison subjects who met DSM-III-R criteria for another personality disorder (and neither criteria set for BPD). After 14 years of follow-up, we are still following 88% of the surviving borderline patients (and 81% of the surviving axis II comparison subjects). During the years of follow-up, we have found that symptomatic remissions of BPD are far more common and stable than expected. We have also found that these remissions were driven more by the relatively rapid resolution of acute symptoms than the relatively slow resolution of temperamental symptoms. Taken together, these findings suggest that BPD has a better symptomatic prognosis than previously known. However, we have found more guarded and complex outcomes in other areas of investigation. More specifically, we found that recovery from BPD involving good social and vocational functioning as well as symptomatic remission from BPD was more difficult to achieve and maintain than symptomatic remission alone. In addition, we found that the physical health of many borderline patients has continued to decline, with obesity-related and smoking-related illnesses becoming more common over time, particularly among borderline patients who have not recovered from BPD (i.e., those with compromised psychosocial functioning). We believe that these findings warrant further investigation into the course of borderline psychopathology (particularly sustained remissions of BPD and its constituent symptoms), psychosocial functioning, recovery from BPD, co-occurring axis I and II disorders, psychiatric treatment, changes in temperament, and medical conditions and medical treatments (AIM 1: Description). We also believe that these findings warrant further investigation into the predictors of three main outcomes: recurrence of BPD, recovery from BPD, and completed suicide (AIM 2: Prediction). Subjects will be assessed at two-year intervals by raters who are blind to all previously collected information using semistructured interviews and self-report measures, including three new instruments assessing physical pain and sleep. This proposed continuation will result in crucial knowledge about the long-term course of BPD, with direct implications for patients, their families, and the clinicians treating them.

Public Health Relevance

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a common and serious psychiatric disorder. The McLean Study of Adult Development (MSAD) is the first large-scale, prospective study of the long-term course and outcome of BPD. This study will provide patients, their families, and those treating them with crucial information they need to plan for the future.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH062169-15
Application #
8644887
Study Section
Adult Psychopathology and Disorders of Aging Study Section (APDA)
Program Officer
Kozak, Michael J
Project Start
2000-09-30
Project End
2015-03-31
Budget Start
2014-04-01
Budget End
2015-03-31
Support Year
15
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$509,623
Indirect Cost
$187,077
Name
Mclean Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
046514535
City
Belmont
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02478
Zanarini, Mary C; Temes, Christina M; Frankenburg, Frances R et al. (2018) Description and prediction of time-to-attainment of excellent recovery for borderline patients followed prospectively for 20 years. Psychiatry Res 262:40-45
Gad, Mohammad A; Pucker, Hannah E; Hein, Katherine E et al. (2018) Facets of identity disturbance reported by patients with borderline personality disorder and personality-disordered comparison subjects over 20 years of prospective follow-up. Psychiatry Res 271:76-82
Borkum, Dana B; Temes, Christina M; Magni, Laura R et al. (2017) Prevalence rates of childhood protective factors in adolescents with BPD, psychiatrically healthy adolescents and adults with BPD. Personal Ment Health 11:189-194
Goodman, Marianne; Tomas, Irene Alvarez; Temes, Christina M et al. (2017) Suicide attempts and self-injurious behaviours in adolescent and adult patients with borderline personality disorder. Personal Ment Health 11:157-163
Zanarini, Mary C; Temes, Christina M; Ivey, Alexandra M et al. (2017) The 10-year course of adult aggression toward others in patients with borderline personality disorder and axis II comparison subjects. Psychiatry Res 252:134-138
Zanarini, Mary C; Frankenburg, Frances R; Reich, D Bradford et al. (2016) Fluidity of the Subsyndromal Phenomenology of Borderline Personality Disorder Over 16 Years of Prospective Follow-Up. Am J Psychiatry 173:688-94
Zanarini, Mary C; Frankenburg, Frances R; Reich, D Bradford et al. (2015) Treatment rates for patients with borderline personality disorder and other personality disorders: a 16-year study. Psychiatr Serv 66:15-20
Zanarini, Mary C; Frankenburg, Frances R; Reich, D Bradford et al. (2015) The course of marriage/sustained cohabitation and parenthood among borderline patients followed prospectively for 16 years. J Pers Disord 29:62-70
Reed, Lawrence Ian; Fitzmaurice, Garrett; Zanarini, Mary C (2015) The relationship between childhood adversity and dysphoric inner states among borderline patients followed prospectively for 10 years. J Pers Disord 29:408-17
Zanarini, Mary C; Frankenburg, Frances R; Bradford Reich, D et al. (2015) Rates of psychotropic medication use reported by borderline patients and axis II comparison subjects over 16 years of prospective follow-up. J Clin Psychopharmacol 35:63-7

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