Testing Interventions for Borderline Personality Disorder.

March 26, 2026 updated by: Skye Fitzpatrick, York University

A Randomized Controlled Trial Testing Sage: A Couple Intervention for Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a life-threatening, costly public health crisis affecting ~1-3% of North Americans, with 10% dying by suicide and annual healthcare costs of ~$63k (Canadian Dollars)/patient. Further, people with BPD's intimate relationships are highly disrupted, and their partners report elevated mental health problems but little access to treatment. Existing BPD treatments are resource-heavy, inaccessible, and 47% of people with BPD do not respond to them. These treatments also neglect relationship problems and intimate partner's mental health concerns, even though they are thought to play a key role in BPD maintenance. BPD interventions may produce stronger, quicker, and more durable outcomes if they incorporated partners to target both the emotional and relationship core of BPD. Moreover, incorporating partners into interventions may improve relationship outcomes and partner mental health without added resource investments.

Accordingly, members of our team developed Sage. Named after a plant that thrives in relationship with its ecosystem, Sage is a brief, 12-session conjoint intervention for people with BPD and their intimate partners that targets BPD, relationship conflict, and partner mental health. Our recent uncontrolled trial provides preliminary support for its efficacy.

As a next step in testing Sage, it is critical to utilize a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) design to identify if Sage is more efficacious than standard care that these couples typically receive; supportive individual psychotherapy (SIP) for people with BPD and their partners. The investigators propose to conduct the first RCT of Sage for couples wherein one member has BPD. The study will examine if Sage is more efficacious than SIP in improving BPD symptoms (primary outcome), as well as relationship conflict and partner mental health (secondary outcomes), as well as a range of other outcomes, from pre- to post-intervention, and post-intervention to follow-up. It will also investigate factors that influence treatment response, BPD severity, and related problems.

Up to 152 couples wherein one member has BPD will be randomized to receive Sage or SIP. Gold-standard measures of primary, secondary, and exploratory outcomes will be administered at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and a one-month, three- month, and six-month follow-up.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
304

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Skye Fitzpatrick, PhD
  • Phone Number: 66214 461-736-2100
  • Email: skyefitz@yorku.ca

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • California
      • Toronto, California, Canada, M3J1P3
        • Recruiting
        • York University
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Skye Fitzpatrick, PhD
        • Contact:
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

INCLUSION CRITERIA

  1. Participant with borderline personality disorder (BPD) meets full diagnostic criteria for BPD (i.e., five or more BPD diagnostic criteria per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5-TR)
  2. Both members are at least 19-years-old
  3. Both members consent to study participation
  4. Both members consent to a member of the research team contacting one of their provided emergency contacts if there are imminent safety concerns.
  5. Both members consent to having assessment interviews and treatment sessions audio- and video-recorded
  6. Both members members reside in Ontario (with no plan to leave the province during the course of the study)
  7. Both members members are fluent in English
  8. Both members are willing to receive emails about the study
  9. Both members have regular internet access from a private location for completion of study appointments

EXCLUSION:

  1. Severe intimate partner violence in their relationship in the past year (Endorsement of severe intimate partner violence items on Conflict Tactics Scale-2)
  2. DSM-5 criteria A and B of schizophrenia, not better accounted for by BPD
  3. Hospitalization in the past year for mania, or mania in the past three months
  4. A substance/alcohol use disorder that is likely to require medical intervention (e.g., detoxification) to reduce use
  5. A medical condition that is likely to require hospitalization within the next year
  6. Scaled score below 70 on the Test of Premorbid Functioning, suggesting impaired intelligence and/or probable traumatic brain injury
  7. Either participant in the dyad is not able to show proof of identification upon request at any point throughout the study or is not able to provide an accurate phone number or address upon request.
  8. The individual with BPD is currently receiving an empirically-supported BPD treatment and is unwilling to pause the therapy for the duration of the active treatment phase

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Sage
Immediately receives 12 sessions of a couple psychotherapy designed to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD) and enhances relationship functioning simultaneously.
Behavioral: Sage
Sage is a 12-session manualized weekly intervention delivered to people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and their intimate partners. The Sage intervention consists of three phases: Phase 1, orientation and safety which focuses on targeting destructive behaviours (e.g., suicide attempts and self harm engagement) by providing couples with safety strategies that target suicide risk/ crisis, education about BPD, the role of emotion dysregulation and intimate relationship dysfunction in maintaining it (~three sessions). Next, Phase 2, communication and emotion skills entails couples learning communication skills and strategies for identifying, expressing, and regulating emotions (~five sessions). Lastly, in Phase 3, cognitive skills and intervention termination, couples learn strategies to target negative cognitions that elicit emotion dysregulation and intimate relationship dysfunction (~four sessions).
Active Comparator: SIP
Immediately receives 12 individual sessions each (12 for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD), 12 for partners) of Supportive Individual Psychotherapy (SIP).
Behavioral: Supportive Individual Psychotherapy
Supportive Individual Psychotherapy (SIP) is a comparator in our control condition reflects enhanced usual care (i.e., supportive psychotherapy) for people with BPD. Both people with BPD and partners will receive SIP sessions separately over the course of 12 sessions, delivered by therapists. For both members of the couple, SIP will involve 12 sessions of a specific form of supportive psychotherapy based on client-centered, humanistic principles. This intervention involves creating a supportive therapeutic relationship, expressing empathy, and helping individuals feel understood. The SIP intervention is designed to support individuals in exploring their relationships and communication patterns as well as following the client's lead on what they want to work on.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Zanarini Rating Scale for BPD (ZAN-BPD)
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Interview measure of BPD severity. Scores range from 0 to 36, with higher scores reflecting higher severity of BPD symptoms.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Conflict Resolution Scale
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of relationship conflict. Scores range from 0 to 52, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of conflict resolution.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale- depression subscale (partners)
Time Frame: It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of depression. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of depression.
It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7)
Time Frame: It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of anxiety. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of anxiety.
It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)
Time Frame: It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of emotion dysregulation. Scores range from 36 to 180, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of emotion dysregulation.
It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Addiction Severity Index
Time Frame: It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of problematic alcohol or substance use. Scores vary across substances and items, but higher scores indicate higher levels of problematic substance use.
It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10
Time Frame: It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of psychological distress. Scores range from 10 to 50, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of psychological distress.
It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Suicide Attempt Self-Injury Interview-modified
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Interview measure of frequency of self-injury and suicidal behaviours. Scores reflect the frequency of suicidal and self-injurious behaviour.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Borderline Symptom List- 23
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of BPD severity. Scores range from 0 to 92, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of BPD severity.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)- select subscales
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), half-way through intervention, immediately after the intervention, and one, three, and six months after the intervention.
Self-report measure of anger, fear, guilt, sadness, fatigue, positive emotion, negative emotion. Score ranges vary across subscales, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of emotion.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), half-way through intervention, immediately after the intervention, and one, three, and six months after the intervention.
Communication Patterns Questionnaire-23 item version
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of communication patterns
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Borderline Symptom List- 23-INFORMANT REPORT
Time Frame: It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Informant-report measure of BPD severity Scores range from 0 to 92, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of partner's BPD severity.
It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Humor Styles Questionnaire - affiliative subscale
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), 12 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of humour and positive communication qualities. Scores range from 8 to 56, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of humour.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), 12 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Perceived Relationship Quality Component
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of relationship satisfaction. Score ranges vary across subscales, with higher scores reflecting higher relationship quality.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Couples Satisfaction Inventory- 16 item version
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of relationship satisfaction. Scores range from 0 to 81, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of relationship satisfaction.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Sage skills use measure
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Use of Sage skills self-report measure, created for present study. Scores range from 0 to 60, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of Sage skill use.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Sage skills use measure (in session)
Time Frame: It will be administered to people with BPD and partners in the Sage condition at the beginning of every session.
Use of Sage skills self-report measure, created for present study. Scores reflect the number of times a skill was used.
It will be administered to people with BPD and partners in the Sage condition at the beginning of every session.
Feinberg Brief Co-Parenting Scale
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of co-parenting experiences. Scores range from 0 to 72, with higher scores reflecting higher levels positive co-parenting.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Empathic accuracy measure
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self and informant-report measure of one's own and one's partner's emotions. Scores for each emotion range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating higher levels of emotion.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Working Alliance Inventory- Short form
Time Frame: It will be administered to people with BPD and partners, as well as their therapists, approximately weekly from weeks one to 12.
Self-report measure of working therapeutic alliance. Scores range from 12 to 60, with higher scores reflecting a stronger therapeutic alliance.
It will be administered to people with BPD and partners, as well as their therapists, approximately weekly from weeks one to 12.
Posttraumatic Checklist-5 (PCL-5)
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of PTSD symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 80, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of PTSD severity.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Informant Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Informant-report measure of emotion dysregulation. Scores range from 8 to 40, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of informant-reported emotion dysregulation.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale- depression subscale (people with BPD)
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of depression. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of depression.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7)
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of anxiety. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of anxiety.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of emotion dysregulation. Scores range from 36 to 180, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of emotion dysregulation.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Experiences of Shame Scale
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of shame. Scores range from 25 to 100, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of shame.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Impulsive Behaviour Scale
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of impulsive behaviour. Scores range from 25 to 125, with higher scores reflecting higher frequency of impulsive behaviour.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self Compassion Scale-Short form
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), 12 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of self-compassion Scores range from 12 to 60, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of self-compassion.
It will be administered people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), 12 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Multidimensional scale of perceived social support
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of perceived social support. Scores range from 1 to 7, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of perceived social support.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Sexual functioning and satisfaction items
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Singular items measuring sexual functioning and satisfaction. Higher scores generally reflect higher sexual satisfaction or frequency of sexual activity.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Break up items
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Singular items measuring whether the relationship has ended.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Conflict tactics scale-2: Negotiation subscale
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of negotiation communication. Scores range from 0 to 36, with higher scores reflecting higher levels negotiation communication.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Subjective emptiness scale
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of emptiness. Higher scores reflect higher emptiness.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP)- BPD subscale
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of interpersonal problems in BPD. Scores range from 0 to 72, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of interpersonal problems.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Addiction Severity Index
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of problematic alcohol or substance use. Scores vary across substances and items, but higher scores indicate higher levels of problematic substance use.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of psychological distress. Scores range from 10 to 50, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of psychological distress.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Brief Inventory of Psychosocial Functioning
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of social functioning. Scores range from 0 to 44, with higher scores reflecting more difficulties in social functioning.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Short Form (12) Health Survey
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of health
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of impulsivity
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale- Suicidal Ideation section
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Interview measure of suicidal ideation. The presence and intensity of suicidal ideation are scored separately and range from 0 to 5 and 0 to 25, respectively, with higher scores reflecting higher severity.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Dissociative Experiences Scale II
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of dissociation. Higher scores reflect higher levels of dissociation.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Mental Health Utilization
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Qualitative interview of measure of mental health service utilization.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Emergency Department Visits
Time Frame: It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Interview of measure of frequency of emergency department visits and reasons for them.
It will be administered only to people with BPD at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
World Health Organization Quality of Life Items
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Three items measuring health, physical functioning, quality of life. Scores range from 1 to 5, with higher scores reflecting higher perceived health, work functioning or quality of life.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Revised University of California-Los Angeles Loneliness Scale
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of loneliness Scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of loneliness.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Emotion Regulation Questionnaire
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Measure of suppression and reappraisal emotion regulation strategy use. Scores range from 4 to 28 for suppression, and 6 to 42 for reappraisal, with higher scores reflecting higher emotion regulation strategy use.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Relationship Questionnaire
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
4-item measure of attachment. Each attachment style is rated on a scale from 1 to 7, with higher scores reflecting a higher measure of each attachment style.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Mentalization Scale
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of mentalization. Scores range from 28 to 140.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire
Time Frame: It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Higher scores reflect higher levels of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness.
It will be administered people with BPD and partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Test of Roles and Reactions in Dyads (TORRID)
Time Frame: It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of roles partners of people with BPD play and their experiences in their relationship. Scores range depending on subscale, with higher scores reflecting higher identification with the role in question.
It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Burden assessment scale
Time Frame: It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
Self-report measure of burden. Score ranges vary across subscales, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of burden.
It will be administered only to partners at baseline (pre-intervention), six weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks.
The Satisfaction With Therapy and Therapist Scale-Revised (STTS-R)
Time Frame: It will be administered to people with BPD and partners at immediately after the intervention (12 weeks).
Self-report measure of satisfaction with intervention and therapist. Scores range from 12 to 60, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of satisfaction with intervention and therapist.
It will be administered to people with BPD and partners at immediately after the intervention (12 weeks).
Behavioural communication sample
Time Frame: It will be administered to people with BPD and their partners in the Sage condition only at the first and last intervention session.
A videorecording of the couple discussing a problem in their relationship. The sample is then coded using a reliable and valid coding system for adaptive and maladaptive communication behaviours.
It will be administered to people with BPD and their partners in the Sage condition only at the first and last intervention session.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
York University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
University of Windsor
Kennesaw State University
The Sashbear Foundation
University of Winnipeg
Toronto Metropolitan University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 30, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 23, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 12, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 14, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 26, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 495689

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-identified data will be posted on a public, online data repository for the purpose of sharing it with the broader scientific community, to promote integrity and transparency in our research and allow other researchers to replicate our results from an open science framework. Demographic data will be shared only in grouped form for the entire sample (e.g., the average age of the sample, the frequencies of various racial/ethnic groups in the sample) except for participant's gender, which will be posted at the individual, rather than group, level.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Following publication of primary study outcomes

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • ANALYTIC_CODE

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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