Psychodynamic Therapy For Co-occurring Borderline Personality Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00145678 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : September 5, 2005
Last Update Posted : January 6, 2015
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Borderline Personality Disorder Alcohol Use Disorder | Behavioral: Psychodynamic Therapy Behavioral: Optimized Community Care | Phase 2 |
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a condition that can cause significant distress and increased risk of death. Many persons with BPD also have an alcohol use disorder (AUD) and there is evidence that this can worsen the outcome and course of both disorders.
A manual-based form of psychodynamic therapy (PT), labeled dynamic deconstructive psychotherapy, has been developed for particularly challenging patients with BPD, especially those with co-occurring substance use disorders. It aims to remediate specific neurocognitive capacities that are responsible for processing of emotional experiences, and so diminishes symptoms of BPD and promotes the development of a coherent and differentiated self-structure. PT has been shown to be helpful for BPD, but has not been tested for people who have BPD with co-occurring substance use disorders.
The proposed study is a randomized controlled trial of PT for persons with BPD and co-occurring AUD that will generate some initial data that can be used to determine the need and feasibility for further outcome studies. Participants are randomized to either a study group receiving weekly PT or to a control group receiving usual care. Enrollment is 15 participants in each group. The study group will receive 12-18 months of PT, with naturalistic follow-up. Outcome measures are administered by a research assistant at enrollment, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, and 30 months.
The investigators anticipate that the PT group will show trends towards better retention in treatment and greater reduction in parasuicides, alcohol misuse, and institutional care. If so, this would have important and positive implications for the large group of patients who suffer from BPD and co-occurring AUD.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 30 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Single (Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Psychodynamic Therapy for Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder and Alcohol Abuse |
Study Start Date : | June 2004 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | May 2010 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | May 2010 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: dynamic deconstructive psychotherapy
weekly individual psychotherapy of 50 minute duration lasting 12-18 months
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Behavioral: Psychodynamic Therapy
Dynamic deconstructive psychotherapy is a time-limited (12-18 month) manual-based form of psychodynamic therapy that aims to remediate specific neurocognitive capacities responsible for processing of emotional experiences.
Other Name: Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy |
Active Comparator: optimized community care
eclectic weekly individual and group psychotherapy, as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation
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Behavioral: Optimized Community Care
individual and group psychotherapy in a private practice, clinic, and/or rehab setting, with an eclectic orientation
Other Name: Treatment as Usual |
- episodes of parasuicide, alcohol intoxication, institutional care [ Time Frame: 12 months ]
- depression, dissociation, core symptoms of borderline pd, perceived social support [ Time Frame: 12 months ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 45 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age between 18 and 45 years
- Meets diagnostic criteria for borderline personality disorder and for active alcohol abuse or dependence
- At least average intelligence
Exclusion Criteria:
- Meets diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00145678
United States, New York | |
SUNY Upstate Medical University, University Hospital | |
Syracuse, New York, United States, 13210 |
Principal Investigator: | Robert J. Gregory, M.D. | State University of New York - Upstate Medical University |
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | State University of New York - Upstate Medical University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00145678 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
SUNY UMU IRB 4968 130230-44 |
First Posted: | September 5, 2005 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | January 6, 2015 |
Last Verified: | January 2015 |
borderline alcohol substance |
psychodynamic psychotherapy psychoanalytic |
Disease Alcoholism Alcohol Drinking Personality Disorders Borderline Personality Disorder Pathologic Processes |
Drinking Behavior Alcohol-Related Disorders Substance-Related Disorders Chemically-Induced Disorders Mental Disorders |