The Duration in Treatment With Electroconvulsive Therapy Among Patients Screening Positive or Negative for Borderline Personality Disorder Traits A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective While emerging evidence suggests that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for depressive symptoms in patients with co-occurring borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits, it is unclear whether the presence of BPD traits modulates the tolerability of ECT. This study estimates the association between BPD traits and retention in acute course ECT treatment. Methods This study used a retrospective cohort of patients receiving ECT between 2015 and 2020 and who were assessed using the McLean Screening Instrument for BPD, the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report 16-item scale, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment before initiating treatment. Results One thousand five hundred eight patients received ECT during the study period, of whom 277 (18.4%) screened positive for BPD traits. Borderline personality disorder traits were associated with a higher odds of remaining in ECT for at least 10 treatments (adjusted odds ratio, 1.502; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-2.02; P = 0.007). Among individual symptom domains, only endorsing chronically feeling empty was associated with duration in ECT treatment. Conclusions Among patients receiving ECT, screening positive for BPD traits was associated with a higher odds of receiving at least 10 ECT treatments. These results support the overall tolerability of ECT in patients with BPD traits.

Automated summary

This study examines the association between borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits and retention in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatment. The results suggest that patients with positive BPD traits are more likely to receive a higher number of ECT treatments, indicating the overall tolerability of ECT in patients with BPD traits.