TABLE 1.

Inclusion criteria for allocation to two groups based on 1‐year follow‐up functioning

Functioning well	Functioning poorly
GAF score of 71 or higher.	GAF score of 60 or below.
GAF scores within this range suggest ‘if symptoms are present, they are transient and expectable reactions to psychosocial stressors; no more than slight impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning’ and have been used in other large‐scale studies as a measure of ‘excellent’ recovery (Zanarini et al., 2018).	GAF scores ranging between 51 and 60 indicate ‘moderate symptoms’ or ‘moderate difficulty in social, occupational or school functioning’. Thus, anything that falls at or below this range indicate moderate to more severe symptoms.
+	+
Score below 16 on the MHI‐5.	Score of 16 or above on the MHI‐5.
Scores in this range are indicative that ‘caseness’ for major psychological distress is unlikely (Berwick et al., 1991).	Scores in this range are indicative of ‘caseness’ for major psychological distress (Berwick et al., 1991).
+	+
Score below 7 on the MSI‐BPD. Scores in this range indicate they do not meet the recommended clinical cut‐off for BPD (Zanarini et al., 2003).	Score of 7 or above on the MSI‐BPD. Scores in this range indicate they meet the recommended clinical cut‐off for BPD (Zanarini et al., 2003).
+	+
‘Good’ or ‘very good’ on the WHO‐QOL.	‘Bad’ or ‘very bad’ on the WHO‐QOL.
Scores in this category are the highest ratings of quality of life.	Scores in this category are the lowest ratings of quality of life.

Abbreviations: BPD, borderline personality disorder; GAF, Global Assessment of Functioning; MHI‐5, Mental Health Index‐5; MSI‐BPD, McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder; WHO‐QOL, World Health Organization Quality of Life.