STEPPS: A cognitive-behavioral systems-based group treatment for outpatients with borderline personality disorder - A preliminary report

We describe a new cognitive-behavioral systems-based group treatment for persons with borderline personality disorder (BIRD). The program is called STEPPS, an acronym for Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving. Briefly, the program combines cognitive-behavioral techniques and skills training with a systems component. The latter involves patients with BIRD and persons in their system (e.g., family members, significant others, health care professionals). The program involves 20 two-hour weekly group meetings with two facilitators, is manual-based, and has specific goals to accomplish each week. Here, we review the background and development of the program, and present preliminary efficacy data from a subset of patients which suggest that patients experience improvement in BIRD and mood-related symptoms. Survey results suggest moderate to high levels of satisfaction for the treatment from patients and therapists. A new scale, the Borderline Evaluation of Severity Over Time (BEST), developed to measure severity and change in persons with BIRD, is described. We propose to conduct additional research to further validate the efficacy of STEPPS. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.