Societal cost-of-illness of borderline personality disorder

Background: Societal costs of borderline personality disorder (BPD) have not been investigated comprehensively in a German sample. Objective: What are the mean annual illness-related societal costs for BPS patients? Which are the most cost-intensive sectors? Methods: BPD-related costs were assessed from a societal perspective in a sample of 55 BPD patients by means of a structured cost-interview covering the 12 months prior to an outpatient psychotherapy and calculated in accordance with current health economic guidelines. Results: Total cost-of-illness in the 12 months prior to treatment was (sic) 26,882 (SD = (sic) 32,275) per patient. (sic) 17.976 (SD = (sic) 23,867) were direct costs and (sic) 8,906 (SD = (sic) 15,518) were calculated as indirect costs. The most relevant portions were costs due to inpatient treatment and partial hospitalization (M = (sic) 13,121; SD = (sic) 19,808) and costs due to disorder-related occupational disability (M = (sic) 7,020; SD = (sic) 15,099). Conclusions: BPD is associated with substantial societal costs that clearly exceed those of many other mental or somatic disorders.