From APA: Mary Zanarini’s study shows social and work skills key to recovery; Andrew Skodol, MD Chairman of DSM 5 Task Force reports all personality disorders will be on Axis I.

Dr Zanarin’s Key Points from her study (Psychiatric News, May 4, 2012):

“1. Remission for symptoms is common for patients with borderline personality disorder but full recovery including good social and vocational functioning is less so.

2. Patients with BPD however fare worse in terms of remission, recovery and recurrence of illness than do patients with other personality disorders.

3. Cumulatives rates of remission for BPD patients ranged from 78 percent for those with an eight-year remission to 99% for those with a two-year reemission.  The corresponding rates for those with another personality disorder were 97 percent and 99 percent respectively.

4. Cumulative rates of recovery for BPD patients rangers from 40 percent for recoveries lasting eight years for 60 percent for recoveries lasting two years.  The corresponding rates for those with another personality disorder were 75 percent and 85 precent respectively.

5. Rates of recurrence of symptoms were higher for BPD patients at both time points as well, and patients with BPD also experiences recurrence of symptoms more quickly.”