BOSCOT : A Randomised Controlled Trial of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Borderline Personality Disorder

The trial is being carried out in three centres in the UK: Glasgow, London and Ayrshire (Ayrshire and Arran). Treatment as Usual (TAU) therefore reflected what is likely to be available in the UK.

Patients were eligible if they satisfied the following criteria:

• Aged between 18 and 65.
• Met criteria for at least 5 items of the borderline personality disorder using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID -II)(First, Gibbon, Spitzer, Williams & Benjamin, 1997)
• Had received either in-patient psychiatric services or an assessment at Accident and Emergency services or an episode of deliberate self-harm (either suicidal act or self-mutilation) in the previous 12 months.
• Able to give informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

were as follows:

• Currently receiving in-patient treatment for a mental state disorder,
• Currently receiving a systematic psychological therapy or specialist service, particularly psychodynamic psychotherapy,
• Insufficient knowledge of English to enable them to be assessed adequately and to understand the treatment approach,
• Temporarily resident in the area,
• The existence of an organic illness, mental impairment, alcohol or drug dependence, schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder, as assessed by SCID I,/P (W/ Psychotic Screen)(version 2) (First, Spitzer, Gibbon, Williams, 1996).

Inclusion criteria

• Aged between 18 and 65.
• Met criteria for at least 5 items of the borderline personality disorder using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID -II)(First, Gibbon, Spitzer, Williams & Benjamin, 1997)
• Had received either in-patient psychiatric services or an assessment at Accident and Emergency services or an episode of deliberate self-harm (either suicidal act or self-mutilation) in the previous 12 months.
• Able to give informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Currently receiving in-patient treatment for a mental state disorder,
• Currently receiving a systematic psychological therapy or specialist service, particularly psychodynamic psychotherapy,
• Insufficient knowledge of English to enable them to be assessed adequately and to understand the treatment approach,
• Temporarily resident in the area,
• The existence of an organic illness, mental impairment, alcohol or drug dependence, schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder, as assessed by SCID I,/P (W/ Psychotic Screen)(version 2) (First, Spitzer, Gibbon, Williams, 1996).