Borderline personality disorder: STEPPS improves symptoms

Borderline personality disorder: STEPPS improves symptoms, Evidence-Based Mental Health 2008;11:120

Kate M Davidson, PhD, FBPsS

 

Abstract:

How effective is the STEPPS programme for people with a borderline personality disorder? Patients:
165 people with DSM-IV borderline personality disorder (18 years; 83% female). Main exclusions: psychotic or primary neurological disorder; cognitive impairment; substance abuse or dependence; recent suicidal thoughts or self-harm behaviour.

Setting:
Outpatient setting, Iowa, USA; recruitment 2002–2006.

Intervention:
Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) plus usual care or usual care alone (including medication, individual psychotherapy and case management). STEPPS is a manual-based group treatment programme involving psychoeducation, and emotion and behaviour management skills training, delivered in once weekly 2-hour sessions over 20 weeks, which includes education for a friend or relative.

Outcomes:
Primary outcome: symptoms (Zanarini Rating Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder Affective (ZRS-BPD), a scale which assesses cognitive disturbance, disturbed relationships, and impulsivity). Secondary outcomes: thoughts, feelings and behaviour (Borderline Evaluation of Severity Over Time scale (BESOT)); positive and negative disposition (Positive and Negative Affect . .

ABSTRACTED FROM   

 

Blum N, John DS, Pfohl B, et al

. Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) for outpatients with borderline personality disorder: a randomized controlled trial and 1-year follow-up.  American J ournal of Psychiatry 2008;165:468–78.

 

 

For the full-text of this article please email: susan.jennings@lancashirecare.nhs.uk