BACKGROUND: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) usually begins in adolescence and manifests itself in adult life. Early intervention can improve the prognosis or reduce its severity. Nevertheless, there are currently few studies of adolescent patients with severe emotion instability and borderline personality traits. AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) programme in a sample of 21 adolescents (aged 13-17 years) in the Child and Adolescents Mental Health Center of Tarragona in Spain. METHOD: We evaluated BPD traits using the Diagnostic Interview for Borderline Disorder-Revised (DIB-R) and the Global Clinical Impression Scale of Illness Severity for TLP (CGI-TLP). We compared pre- and post-treatment scores for the DIB-R, CGI-GI scale, general psychopathology using the Personality Inventory for Adolescents (PAI-A) and impulsivity with the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11). The therapeutic objectives were evaluated with the Borderline Estimate Severity over Time (BEST) scale. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement in the scores for the affective area and in the total score of the DIB-R, a decrease in the percentage of patients who failed to meet criteria for BPD, and an improvement (although not statistically significant) in the scores of the BEST scale throughout the treatment. The results of the CGI-GI scale showed global improvement in almost 72% of patients. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that STEPPS can be an effective treatment to improve BPD symptoms and is very useful in community settings with limited resources in which efficient treatment alternatives must be sought. However, this conclusion must be interpreted with caution, as there is no comparison control group.
Borderline Personality Disorder , Psychotherapy, Group , Adolescent , Adult , Borderline Personality Disorder/therapy , Child , Emotional Regulation , Humans , Pilot Projects , Treatment Outcome
En este trabajo se comparan, dentro de una población clínica, las características sociales, demográficas y clínicas de dos subgrupos, uno de menores en acogimiento residencial (grupo caso) y otro que reside en un entorno familiar (grupo control). Encontramos un perfil de mayor gravedad clínica en el grupo caso. Los trastornos neuróticos y reacciones de estrés, diagnosticados en un tercio de los pacientes, son los que alcanzan la mayor prevalencia en ambos grupos. El trastorno de la vinculación, también muy presente en el grupo caso, pero prácticamente inexistente en el de control, es el que provoca la discrepancia de mayor significación entre ambos grupos
This study features a comparison of the the social, demographic and clinical characteristics of two subgroups within a clinical population: one group of children in residential care (case group) versus another group of children living in a family environment (control group). We observed a more severe clinical profile in the case group. Anxiety and adjustment disorders were the most prevalent diagnosis in both groups, and were present in a third of all patients. Attachment disorder was highly prevalent in the case group, while virtually non-existent in the control group. This was the most significant difference between the two groups
Conèixer-los per ajudar-los. En aquest treball es comparen, dins duna població clínica, les característiques socials, demogràfiques i clíniques de dos subgrups, un de menors en acolliment residencial (grup cas) i un altre que resideix en un entorn familiar (grup control). Trobem un perfil de més gravetat clínica en el grup cas. Els trastorns neuròtics i reaccions destrès, diagnosticats en un terç dels pacients, són els de més prevalença en tots dos grups. El trastorn de la vinculació, també molt present en el grup cas, però pràcticament inexistent en el de control, és el que provoca la discrepància més significativa entre els dos grups
Humans , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Young Adult , Mental Disorders/prevention & control , Mental Disorders/psychology , Mental Disorders/therapy , Neurotic Disorders/prevention & control , Neurotic Disorders/psychology , Neurotic Disorders/therapy , Orphanages/methods , Orphanages , Child Welfare/psychology , Child Welfare/legislation & jurisprudence , Foster Home Care/methods , Foster Home Care/psychology , Foster Home Care , Child Health , Adolescent Health , Spain
