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The effect of a specialised intervention program for borderline personality disorder on the need for acute hospitalisations: A retrospective observational study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 August 2025

I. da Fonseca Pinto
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University Hospital Center of São João
A. L. Cardoso
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University Hospital Center of São João
A. da Silva Moreira
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University Hospital Center of São João
C. Sousa Reis
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University Hospital Center of São João
H. Ginja
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University Hospital Center of São João
I. Mangas Palma
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University Hospital Center of São João
J. Tavares Coelho
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University Hospital Center of São João
E. Osório
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University Hospital Center of São João Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
R. Barranha*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University Hospital Center of São João Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) often results in recurrent acute hospitalisations, significantly burdening healthcare systems. Specialised intervention programs aim to stabilise patients and reduce hospital admissions. This study investigates the impact of a structured BPD Intervention Program at the Local Health Unit of São João on reducing the need for acute hospitalisations.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to assess the effect of integration into the BPD Intervention Program on the frequency of acute hospitalizations. Furthermore, we aim to investigate the relationship between clinical and sociodemographic factors, as well as the need for inpatient care.

Methods

This is a retrospective longitudinal study with quantitative statistical analysis of data from 293 patients referred for suspected BPD at the São João Local Health Unit. The analysis included 163 patients who had their BPD diagnosis confirmed. We collected data from hospital records, focusing on the number of hospitalisations before and after program admission. We also analysed variables such as the program’s follow-up duration.

Results

The mean age at the time of the first evaluation was 24.6 years, with symptoms typically starting at a mean age of 14.2 years. The majority of participants (94%) were female. The program’s integration led to a significant reduction in hospital admissions. Prior to the program, patients had an average of 1.01 hospitalisations per patient (median = 0). After integration, the average decreased to 0.66 hospitalisations per patient (median = 0). We are conducting further analyses to explore associations between additional factors and hospitalisation outcomes.

Conclusions

Integration into the BPD Intervention Program is associated with a decrease in acute hospitalizations. This clearly supports the idea that specific interventions can help stabilise BPD patients. The findings also highlight how personalised care can reduce strain on healthcare costs. Future research should evaluate the long-term benefits of the program, including its impact on the duration of hospital stays and the lasting effects of reduced hospitalisation rates after program completion.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Information

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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