IN THE NEWS

Borderline Personality Disorder as Debilitating as Bipolar Disorder Mark Zimmerman, MD, compared psychiatric disorders to predict morbidity

PROVIDENCE – The deterioration of psychiatric and physical Like bipolar patients, persons with BPD are likely to also health caused by borderline personality disorder (BPD) rivals suffer from depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, that of bipolar disorder, according to MARK ZIMMERMAN, eating disorders and suicidal behaviors. These co-occurring MD, a researcher at Rhode Island Hospital. His research was mental illnesses may have symptoms that overlap with published online in the British Journal of Psychiatry last week. BPD, making it difficult to recognize BPD in patients with “The level of psychosocial morbidity and suicidality asso- these other mental illnesses. ciated with BPD is as great, or greater, than that experienced “Despite the clinical and public health significance of by patients with bipolar disorder,” said Zimmerman, director both of these disorders, it sometimes seems as if BPD lives of outpatient psychiatry at Rhode Island Hospital and director in the shadow of bipolar disorder,” said Zimmerman. “Bipo- of the Rhode Island Methods to Improve Diagnostic Assess- lar disorder is a widely researched, well-publicized, well- ment and Services (MIDAS) project. “From a public health funded topic. By contrast, BPD is seldom discussed and it is perspective, improving the detection and treatment of BPD not included in the Global Burden of Disease study, a com- is as imperative as diagnosing and treating bipolar disorders.” prehensive registry that quantifies diseases by cost, mortal- The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that ity, geography, risk and other factors.” 1.6 percent of the U.S. population is diagnosed with BPD, This study was a component of the MIDAS project, compared with 2.6 percent of those with bipolar disorder. which is an ongoing clinical research study at Rhode Island This is the largest comparison of patients who have been Hospital involving the integration of research assessment diagnosed with BPD or bipolar disorder. Persons with BPD methods into routine clinical practice. have difficulty regulating emotions and thoughts, often No external financial support was provided for this teetering at extremes. They engage in impulsive and reck- research study. Zimmerman’s principal affiliation is Rhode less behavior, and their relationships with other people are Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, members of the rocky. While persons with bipolar disorder experience the Lifespan health system in Rhode Island. He also has an aca- same mood for weeks, those with BPD cope with intense demic appointment at the Alpert Medical School of Brown bouts of anger, depression and anxiety that are short in University, department of psychiatry and human behavior. duration. According to Zimmerman’s study, clinical expe- Other researchers from that department involved in the study rience suggests that BPD is as disabling as bipolar disor- were WILLIAM ELLISON, PhD, THERESA A. MORGAN, ders. In psychiatric patient samples, BPD is as frequent as PhD, DIANE YOUNG, PhD, IWONA CHELMINSKI, PhD, and bipolar disorder. KRISTY DALRYMPLE, PhD. v

Sandra Salzillo to speak at international trauma treatment conference

PROVIDENCE – SANDRA SALZILLO, MA, physical impact of trauma is a daily and work with the ongoing effects of CAGS, LMHC, APA, a licensed men- reality for millions of Americans,” trauma are planned. tal health clinician with the Program Salzillo says. “About 70 percent of us Salzillo is a nationally-acclaimed in Women’s Oncology at Women & have experienced some type of trau- visual artist, expressive arts facilita- Infants Hospital, was invited to serve matic event at least once in their lives. tor and archetypal pattern analyst. on the faculty for an international con- Of these people, at least 20 percent, or She is a senior faculty member at the ference on trauma treatment. about 44 million people, will develop Assisi Institute and an adjunct profes- “After the Storms: Psyche’s Response post-traumatic stress syndrome or sor in the holistic counseling master’s to Trauma, Resilience and Healing” PTSD as a result.” program at Salve Regina University. will take place June 18 to 21, at The The conference will highlight the At Women & Infants, she facilitates Assisi Institute, an international need for a more nuanced approach in groups and workshops, and provides psychological organization founded working with people who struggle individual counseling to patients. Her in 1989 and located in Mystic, CT. with the daily realities of PTSD, and work is based on connecting women Salzillo joins some of the world’s lead- will offer some of the latest research to their imaginative abilities, which ing scholars, psychologists and trauma in neurological and somatic studies. allows for a deeper understanding of experts on the faculty. In addition, presentations on innova- their personal process. v “The psychological, emotional and tive approaches to helping integrate

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