The relationship between impulsivity and vocational outcome in outpatient youth with borderline personality features.

摘要

AIM: This study aims to examine the relationship between each Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) borderline personality feature and vocational outcome (i.e. employment and education) in a sample of young people diagnosed with borderline personality pathology. METHODS: The sample comprised 60 young people registered with a specialist early intervention programme for borderline personality disorder (BPD). Diagnostic data and vocational information were obtained from a standardized semistructured assessment and medical record review for a period of 12 months from entry into the treatment programme. RESULTS: DSM-IV criterion 4 'impulsivity' upon entry to the treatment programme was associated with poor vocational outcome 12 months after index assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Although the results of the present study suggest that impulsivity is an important feature predictive of vocational functioning in BPD, and that specific intervention in impulsivity might be a critical goal for early intervention of BPD to maximize functional recovery for such patients, further studies are required to test the reliability and validity of the role of impulsivity in relation to vocational outcome of these patients.