What Do Individuals With Borderline Personality Disorder Want From Treatment? A Study of Self-generated Treatment and Recovery Goals

Outcome measurement has progressed in the field of personality disorders. While the majority of trials have evaluated outcomes on the basis of symptom and diagnostic indices, what is considered a meaningful and valued outcome to individuals has seldom been investigated. Self-generated treatment goals were collected from 102 individuals seeking treatment for borderline personality disorder and independently coded by 2 raters. Responses were content-analyzed to determine the categories of goals people want for treatment. A total of 464 individual goal units across 4 main goal types emerged in the content analysis: reducing symptoms, improved well-being, better interpersonal relationships, and having a greater sense of self. Although the reduction of symptoms was the most commonly reported goal, 88.2% reported wanting better psychosocial functioning, including improvements in relationships, vocation, and self-understanding. The existence of the wide range of goals suggests that there is a need for clinicians to establish a collaborative formulation of treatment goals with individuals to ensure that treatment is personalized and meaningful.