UNLABELLED: This study describes differences in course and outcome, defined by GSI (SCL-90) at admission, discharge, and one-year follow-up, in 458 patients receiving in-patient treatment for long-standing symptom and/or personality disorders. A K-mean cluster analysis identified seven subgroups of patients, representing four clinical distinct, meaningful patterns of change: early improvement, late improvement, relapsing after discharge, and a severe chronic course. MAIN FINDINGS: the subgroups had unique correlates among socio-demographic, diagnostic, and treatment-related characteristics. One of the relapsing groups had a high rate of Cluster C personality disorders, whereas the other had low participation in the anxiety programme. The group with severe chronic course showed occupational maladjustment and high number of both Axis I and II disorders. IMPLICATIONS: anxiety patients should participate in anxiety-treatment programmes, Cluster C patients should be followed and monitored for relapse, and severe chronic patients should be offered specialised treatment for their co-existing substance abuse and/or eating disorders.
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Gude et al. (2000) studied this question.