People With Severe Personality Disorders Often Overprescribed Drugs By UK Psychiatrists

While treatment certainly varies, Paris believes “specialized treatments, such as dialectal behavior therapy and metallization-based treatment” more effectively treat patients with personality disorders.

People With Severe Personality Disorders Often Overprescribed Drugs By UK Psychiatrists

May 7, 2015 02:31 PM
By Stephanie Castillo

Psychiatrists in the UK are disregarding their clinical guidelines when it comes to treating their patients with personality disorders, according to new research published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Researchers surveyed 2,600 patients receiving psychiatric services for their diagnosed disorders, with more than two-thirds diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD). More commonly this disorder is referred to as borderline personality disorder (BPD). People with BPD experience “abrupt and extreme mood changes, stormy interpersonal relationships, an unstable and fluctuating image, as well as unpredictable and self-destructive actions,” Mental Health America (MHA) reported.

The results of the survey showed nearly every patient with EUPD was being treated with antidepressants or antipsychotics, which is “largely outside the licensed indications,” researchers said. Dr. Joel Paris provided commentary on the study; he explained drugs are so frequently prescribed because they require less time to work than therapy.

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