PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION OUTCOMES AMONG CLINICAL PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT PERSONALITY DISORDER CO-MORBIDITY
Abstract
Objective: The present research aimed at exploring if outcomes show difference when psychotherapeutic intervention is practiced on patients who are diagnosed with a single clinical disorder (anxiety or depressive disorder) and who have an additional diagnosis of personality disorder. It was hypothesized that patients diagnosed with anxiety and depressive disorder (Axis I) alone will show better progress in treatment through psychotherapy, as compared to those having an additional diagnosis of some personality disorders(on axis II).
Place of Study: Karachi and Islamabad, Pakistan.
Sample and Method: The sample selected consisted of diagnosed 60 patients (36 males /24 females) diagnosed with either anxiety or depressive disorders as per DSM criteria, and pursued psychological treatment from different professionally qualified clinical psychologists (N=9), age ranged between 18 to 55, from psychiatric units of different hospitals and psychological clinics of Karachi and Islamabad. The sample was further divided into two groups, one with single axis I diagnosis (n=30) and the second group (n=30) having an additional diagnosis of personality disorders (Axis II). After controlling principal and additional diagnoses, the subjects’ GAF scale (DSM-IV-TR) before the treatment started was noted from data files. All the patients were asked to fill in “Questionnaire of personal change (Q-PC)” by Krampen [1] before and after completion of initial 30 sessions, and GAF scale was rerated to assess the improvement in global functioning.
Results: The results revealed momentous improvement in patients who suffered from single Axis I diagnosis as compared to those who also had an additional diagnosis of personality disorders on Axis II.
Conclusion: It was concluded that psychotherapeutic outcomes are influenced negatively by co-occurrence of personality disorder
