Antipsychotics and emotionally unstable personality disorder: a literature review

This reviews aim was to explore the evidence base for the use of antipsychotic medications in the management of acute symptoms in patients with emotionally unstable personality disorder. Relevant databases and grey literature were searched for relevant papers. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied which resulted in the retrieval of eight papers pertinent to the literature review. The papers were critically appraised, and a thematic analysis was undertaken to collate relevant data. Five themes emerged from this literature review: different outcome measures, symptom domains (anger, impulsivity, mood instability, pseudopsychotic symptoms, self-harm and suicidal behaviours, adverse effects, the quality of the evidence and bias). The evidence base is not robust enough to allow conclusions to be drawn. Any positive results must be weighed up against the potential for adverse events. This review lays the foundations for further research, which is needed to explore antipsychotic treatment.