Sociodemographic and clinical predictors in patients with borderline personality disorder: A 12-month follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE

The care of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) places a significant burden on emergency inpatient mental health services. The aim of this study was to investigate predisposing risk factors for early rehospitalization over 12 months.

METHODS

A total of 117 inpatients with BPD were included. The Beck Hopelessness Scale, Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile, Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) were administered.

RESULTS

Forty-seven percent of the sample was rehospitalized. Divorced marital status, current substance abuse, a higher score on the TAS-20 externally oriented thinking score and on the COPE Alcohol and drug disengagement subscales, and a lower score on the COPE. Use of social-emotional support subscale were significantly associated with rehospitalization. Therefore, alcohol and substance misuse, impaired social support, and alexithymia were the most relevant predictors for rehospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

Maladaptive coping, depressive symptoms, and history of high service utilization and multiple high-lethality suicide attempts were also found to be more common in readmitted subjects. Further research could help to better define potential different therapeutic interventions.