Psychotherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: Mentalization-Based

Description

• Presents a detailed account of the theory underlying psychological processes of borderline personality disorder
• Describes an original new approach to treating this common disorder
• Includes the core techniques of treatment with numerous illustrative examples
• Compares this approach with existing treatments for BPD
• Borderline Personality disorder is a severe personality dysfunction characterized by behavioural features such as impulsivity, identity disturbance, suicidal behaviour, emptiness, and intense and unstable relationships. Approximately 2% of the population are thought to meet the criteria for BPD. The authors of this volume - Anthony Bateman and Peter Fonagy - have developed a psychoanalytically oriented treatment to BPD known as mentalization treatment. With randomised controlled trials having shown this method to be effective, this book presents the first account of mentalization treatment for BPD.

The first section gives an overview of BPD, including discussion of nosology, epidemiology, natural history, and psychosocial aetiology. It additionally summarises the present state of our research knowledge about effective psychotherapeutic treatments and use of medication. The second section outlines the authors' theoretical approach and contrasts it with other well known methods, including DBT, CAT, and CBT. In the extensive final section, the authors outline their clinical approach starting with how treatment is organised. A detailed account of the transferable features of the model is provided along with the main strategies and techniques of treatment. Numerous clinical examples are given to illustrate the core techniques and detailed information provided about how to apply aspects of the mentalization based treatment approach in everyday practice.

Aimed at mental health professionals, along with counsellors, psychotherapists, and psychoanalysts, the book will be a valuable tool, providing an effective means of treating those suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder.

Readership: Mental health professionals, psychologists, psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, and counsellors

Contents

• 1. Epidemiological and etiological research on borderline personality disorder
  Definition of the problem
  Epidemiology
  Clinical picture
  The natural history of BPD
  Studies of mechanisms and aetiological factors
• 2. Therapy research and outcome
  Psychological treatments
  Drug treatments
  Problems of outcome research
• 3. Mentalization-based understanding of borderline personality disorder
  The developmental roots of BPD
  The relevance of the attachment theory perspective
  Optimal self-development in a secure attachment context
  The impact of an insecure base
  The impact of attachment trauma
• 4. Current models of treatment for BPD
  Transference focused therapy
  Dialectical behaviour therapy
  Cognitive behaviour therapy
  Cognitive analytic therapy
  Psychodynamic-interpersonal
  Therapeutic communities
  Other North American approaches
  Other European approaches
  Mentalization: the common theme in psychotherapeutic approaches to BPD
• 5. Treatment organization
  Service models
  The treatment programmes
  Staff
  Assessment
  Engagement in treatment
  Supporting the team
  Care programme approach
  Adherence
• 6. Transferable features of the MBT model
  Structure
  Consistency, constancy and coherence
  Relationship focus
  Flexibility
  Intensity
  Individual approach to care
  Use of medication
  Integration of modalities of therapy
• 7. Strategies of treatment
  Enhancing mentalization
  Bridging the gaps
  Transference
  Retaining mental closeness
  Working with current mental states
  Bearing in mind the deficits
  Real relationships
• 8. Techniques of treatment
  Identification and appropriate expression of affect
  Establishment of stable representational systems
  Formation of coherent sense of Self
  Development of a capacity to form secure relationships
• 9. Implementation pathway
  Step 1 - Consider the context in which you work ...
  Step 2 - Apply organizational principles
  Step 3 - Modify the aims and techniques of your current practice
  Step 4 - Implement procedures for dealing with challenging behaviours
  Step 5 - Constantly evaluate your practice
• Appendices
• References