Understanding and Treating Borderline Personality Disorder : A Guide for Professionals and Families

Understanding and Treating Borderline Personality Disorder: A Guide for Professionals and Families offers both a valuable update for mental health professionals and much-needed information and encouragement for BPD patients and their families and friends. The editors of this eminently practical and accessible text have brought together the wide-ranging and updated perspectives of 15 recognized experts who discuss topics such as -A new understanding of BPD, suggesting that individuals may be genetically prone to developing BPD and that certain stressful events may trigger its onset -New evidence for the success of various forms of psychotherapy, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), in reducing self-injury, drug dependence, and days in the hospital for some groups of people with BPD -Pharmacology research showing that the use of specific medications can relieve the cognitive, affective, and impulsive symptoms experienced by individuals with BPD, as part of a comprehensive psychosocial treatment plan -New resources for families to help them deal with the dysregulated emotions of their loved ones with BPD and to build effective support systems for themselves Yet much remains to be done. Research on BPD is 20 to 30 years behind that on other major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Despite evidence to the contrary, much of the professional literature on BPD continues to focus on childhood trauma, abuse, and neglect as triggers for BPDAto the detriment of both patient and family. Families of people with BPD must deal with an array of burdens in coping with the illness, often without basic information. The chapters on families and BPD give voice to the experience of BPD from the perspective of individuals and family members, and offer the hope that family involvement in treatment will be beneficial to everyone. Above all, this book is about the partnership between mental health professionals and families affected by BPD, and about how such a partnership can advance our understanding and treatment of this disorder and provide hope for the future.

Understanding and Treating Borderline Personality Disorder: A Guide for Professionals and Families offers both a valuable update for mental health professionals and much-needed information and encouragement for BPD patients and their families and friends. The editors of this eminently practical and accessible text have brought together the wide-ranging and updated perspectives of 15 recognized experts who discuss topics such as • A new understanding of BPD, suggesting that individuals may be genetically prone to developing BPD and that certain stressful events may trigger its onset• New evidence for the success of various forms of psychotherapy, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), in reducing self-injury, drug dependence, and days in the hospital for some groups of people with BPD• Pharmacology research showing that the use of specific medications can relieve the cognitive, affective, and impulsive symptoms experienced by individuals with BPD, as part of a comprehensive psychosocial treatment plan• New resources for families to help them deal with the dysregulated emotions of their loved ones with BPD and to build effective support systems for themselves

Yet much remains to be done. Research on BPD is 20 to 30 years behind that on other major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Despite evidence to the contrary, much of the professional literature on BPD continues to focus on childhood trauma, abuse, and neglect as triggers for BPD -- to the detriment of both patient and family.

Families of people with BPD must deal with an array of burdens in coping with the illness, often without basic information. The chapters on families and BPD give voice to the experience of BPD from the perspective of individuals and family members, and offer the hope that family involvement in treatment will be beneficial to everyone.

Above all, this book is about the partnership between mental health professionals and families affected by BPD, and about how such a partnership can advance our understanding and treatment of this disorder and provide hope for the future.

Offers Both A Valuable Update For Mental Health Professionals And Much-needed Information And Encouragement For Bpd Patients And Their Families And Friends. The Editors Of This Eminently Practical And Accessible Text Have Brought Together The Wide-ranging And Updated Perspectives Of 15 Recognized Experts Who Discuss Topics Such As: New Evidence For The Success Of Various Forms Of Psychotherapy, Including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (dbt), In Reducing Self-injury, Drug Dependence, And Days In The Hospital For Some Groups Of People With Bpd; Pharmacology Research Showing That The Use Of Specific Medications Can Relieve The Cognitive, Affective, And Impulsive Symptoms Experienced By Individuals With Bpd, As Part Of A Comprehensive Psychosocial Treatment Plan; And A New Understanding Of Bpd, Suggesting That Individuals May Be Genetically Prone To Developing Bpd And That Certain Stressful Events May Trigger Its Onset. The Borderline Diagnosis: Concepts, Criteria, And Controversies / Andrew E. Skodol -- Psychotherapies For Borderline Personality Disorder / Donna S. Bender And John M. Oldham -- Suicidal And Self-injurious Behavior In Borderline Personality Disorder: A Self-regulation Model / Barbara Stanley And Beth S. Brodsky -- Pharmacotherapy In Borderline Personality Disorder / Paul H. Soloff -- The Longitudinal Course Of Borderline Personality Disorder / Mary C. Zanarini -- Living With Borderline Personality Disorder: A Firsthand Account -- Family Perspectives On Borderline Personality Disorder / Dixianne Penney And Patricia Woodward. From Family Trauma To Family Support System / Harriet P. Lefley -- Family Involvement In Treatment / Alan E. Fruzzetti And Jennifer L. Boulanger. Edited By John G. Gunderson, Perry D. Hoffman ; In Collaboration With Penny Steiner-grossman, Patricia Woodward. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 6 Contributors......Page 8 Foreword......Page 10 Preface......Page 16 A Word to the Lay Reader......Page 20 Part I: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis......Page 22 1 The Borderline Diagnosis: Concepts, Criteria, and Controversies......Page 24 2 Psychotherapies for Borderline Personality Disorder......Page 42 3 Suicidal and Self-Injurious Behavior in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Self-Regulation Model......Page 64 4 Pharmacotherapy in Borderline Personality Disorder......Page 86 5 The Longitudinal Course of Borderline Personality Disorder......Page 104 Part II: Family Matters......Page 124 6 Living With Borderline Personality Disorder: Two Firsthand Accounts......Page 126 7 Family Perspectives on Borderline Personality Disorder......Page 138 8 From Family Trauma to Family Support System......Page 152 9 Family Involvement in Treatment......Page 172 B......Page 186 D......Page 187 F......Page 188 I......Page 189 P......Page 190 S......Page 191 Z......Page 192 This is a concise, clearly written, and eminently practical text. It offers both a valuable update for mental health professionals and much-needed information and encouragement for BPD patients and their families and friends. These authors present a new understanding BPD, suggesting that genetic factors and certain stressful events may combine to trigger its onset; new evidence supporting the benefits of specific medications; and the success of various forms of psychotherapy This book contains practical guidelines for treating Borderline Personality Disorder. Dr. Gunderson is one of the handful of top experts in the country who truly understand how to treat BPD. I highly recommend this book to clinicians seeking broader, accurate understanding of this highly treatable disorder. Thank you! Tami Green www.borderlinepersonalitysupport.com