Year: 1987 Source: Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, v.175, no.8, (1987), p.467-473 SIEC No: 20030038

This study tracks the baseline clinical presentation & long-term course of three patient groups defined largely by DSM-III from the Chestnut Lodge follow-up study: unipolar affective disorder, borderline personality disorder, & a comorbid cohort. Comorbid BPD effects on UNI include earlier onset & absence of psychotic symptoms at baseline & more substance abuse & use of psychiatric treatment at follow-up. Comorbid UNI effects on BPD include better premorbid instumental functioning, later onset at baseline & a higher risk for suicide over the long term. Other noteworthy findings are a low rate of suicide among the noncomorbid BPD patients & a high rate of diagnostic instability among the noncomorbid UNI patients. (17 refs)