Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment of choice for borderline personality disorder

by Vanessa Stanton Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Borderline personality disorder is mainly treated using psychotherapy, but medication may be added. Your doctor also may recommend hospitalization if your safety is at risk. Treatment can help you learn skills to manage and cope with your condition.Jul 17, 2019

Medication

“This led to a number of striking discussions and observations, and in the end, I was assessed to be a person with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and, like the vast majority of people I speak with, I had no idea what this was or meant at that time.”

Therapy

  • Psychotherapy. There are several types of therapy that have been shown to work well in the treatment of borderline personality disorder. ...
  • Medication. Two types of drugs are especially recommended. ...
  • Life skills and education classes. ...
  • Holistic mind-body healing techniques. ...
  • Additional treatment for co-occurring disorders. ...

Self-care

  • we know ourselves,
  • we have a sense of control over ourselves,
  • our stable sense of self guarantees a consistent behavior in different situations.

How to deal with someone with borderline personality disorder?

Why Therapy Is Difficult for BPD Patients. Many people suffering from borderline personality disorder (BPD) find that therapy works well for them. Unfortunately, however, this is not the case for everybody. Therapy requires the patient's commitment to wellness and an understanding of their disorder. Because personality disorders heavily affect the way a person thinks about and perceives things, people suffering from BPD often cannot recognize their disorder.

How to get rid of borderline personality disorder?

How to spot the nine traits of borderline personality disorder?

Why is borderline personality disorder "difficult" to treat?

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What is the gold standard treatment for borderline personality disorder?

Born from the randomized controlled trial by Linehan and colleagues in 1991, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has become the gold standard for treatment of individuals who are suicidal and have borderline personality disorder.

What is the first line of treatment for borderline personality disorder?

First-line treatment for BPD is psychotherapy [5-7]. Psychotropic medications are used as adjuncts to psychotherapy, targeting specific BPD symptom clusters. Adjunctive use of symptom targeted medications has been found to be useful [8]. Psychotherapy for BPD is reviewed here.

How do I calm my borderline personality disorder?

What you could do to get through it:wrap up in a blanket and watch your favourite TV show.write all your negative feelings on a piece of paper and tear it up.listen to a song or piece of music you find uplifting.write a comforting letter to the part of yourself that is feeling sad or alone.cuddle a pet or a soft toy.

What is the best mood stabilizer for borderline personality disorder?

Divalproex sodium and valproate Divalproex sodium is among the mood stabilizers, which are comprehensively studied in patients with BPD [52]. Wilcox claimed that divalproex decreased agitation significantly in patients with BPD.

What triggers a person with borderline personality disorder?

being a victim of emotional, physical or sexual abuse. being exposed to long-term fear or distress as a child. being neglected by 1 or both parents. growing up with another family member who had a serious mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder or a drink or drug misuse problem.

What is the most effective treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder is mainly treated using psychotherapy, but medication may be added. Your doctor also may recommend hospitalization if your safety is at risk. Treatment can help you learn skills to manage and cope with your condition.

Do borderlines cry a lot?

Compared to non-patients, BPD patients showed the anticipated higher crying frequency despite a similar crying proneness and ways of dealing with tears. They also reported less awareness of the influence of crying on others.

What is a BPD episode like?

Impulsive and often dangerous behaviors, such as spending sprees, unsafe sex, substance abuse, reckless driving and binge eating. Recurring suicidal behaviors or threats or self-harming behavior, such as cutting. Intense and highly changeable moods, with each episode lasting from a few hours to a few days.

What is evidence based treatment for BPD?

Evidence-based advances in the treatment of BPD include a delineation of generalist models of care in contrast to specialist treatments, identification of essential effective elements of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and the adaptation of DBT treatment to manage post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and BPD. Studies on pharmacological interventions remain limited and have not provided evidence that any specific medications can provide stand-alone treatment.

How many studies have been published on borderline personality disorder?

The Cochrane review of psychological therapies for borderline personality disorder, which analyzed 28 studies published until 2011, is among the most significant additions to the literature on treatments for BPD in the last 5 years [5]. The major randomized controlled studies can be characterized in four major waves (Table ​(Table1).1). The first wave of studies compared specialized therapies for BPD to TAU. In this first wave of studies, DBT and MBT were established as EBTs [1, 9–11]. Additionally, a short-term group therapy, STEPPS, was added to TAU and found to be more effective than TAU alone in reducing symptoms of BPD, negative mood states, and impulsivity while increasing functioning [4].

What is mentalization in BPD?

Mentalization refers to the complex capacity human beings develop to imagine the thoughts and feelings in one’s own and other’s minds to understand interpersonal interactions [41]. Therein lies its mechanism of change. MBT proposes that BPD symptoms arise when a patient stops mentalizing, leading patients to operate from pathologically certainty about other’s motives, the disconnection from grounding influence of reality, and a desperate need for proof of feelings through action. Attachment interactions become hyperactivated, feeding into distress and difficulty coping, rather than providing safety and security, rendering the therapeutic process with BPD difficult.

What is SCM in BPD?

Like GPM, SCM provides a structured framework for approaching treatment for BPD (see Table ​Table22for comparisons). This framework is guided by a number of generalist principles and is meant to make treatment understandable and predictable for patients. There is an emphasis on sharing the borderline diagnosis with patients, psychoeducation, alliance building that is based both on contractual (e.g., goal agreement) and relational factors (e.g., trust, reliability, liking), encouragement of family involvement, limited reliance on psychopharmacological intervention, some guidance on managing co-morbid conditions, and explicit safety planning. Both GPM and SCM recommend intersession contact be used sparingly. However, SCM takes a more cautious approach, advocating for “vigorously supporting the patient on the telephone if necessary” [47, p. 69], vehemently pursuing clients who have not come to treatment, and a willingness to meet them at home or elsewhere when safety risk is elevated. This may have more to do with differences in the legal climate of the UK versus the USA than with beliefs about the utility of intersession contact. Also, SCM includes specifically articulated weekly group therapy. Group therapy is open on a rolling basis for patients and includes psychoeducation and a framework focused on problem solving.

How does MBT help with BPD?

MBT aims to stabilize the problems of BPD by strengthening the patient’s capacity to mentalize under the stress of attachment activation [41]. MBT therapists adopt a stance of curiosity, and “not knowing” in order to encourage patients to assess their emotional and interpersonal situation through a more grounded, flexible, and benevolent lens. Prioritizing the maintenance of mentalizing, MBT therapists support patients to think through hyperactivated states themselves, rather than providing prepackaged or intellectualized explanations, insights, or skills. Outpatient MBT involves 50 min of weekly individual therapy, 75 min of group therapy, and a reflecting team meeting which serves to support clinical team members in their mentalization in the process of treatment [25]. Developed within the National Health Services (NHS) in the United Kingdom, MBT provides a tenable model for treating personality disordered patients settings where patients and clinicians face scarce resources.

What is the best EBT for BPD?

The most well-known, well researched, and widely available EBT for BPD is DBT [39, 40]. Informed by clinical experience with suicidal personality disordered patients who did not improve with standard cognitive behavioral therapy intervention, Linehan developed DBT by incorporating the concept of dialectics and the strategy of validation into a treatment focused on skills acquisition and behavioral shaping. DBT formulates the problems of BPD as a result of the transaction between individuals born with high emotional sensitivity and “invalidating environments” that is, people or systems (i.e., families, schools, treatment settings, workplaces) that cannot perceive, understand, and respond effectively to their vulnerabilities.

What are the co-morbidities of BPD?

Investigators have also adapted the established evidence based treatments for BPD to manage the usual complex co-morbidities of BPD including substance use disorders substance use disorders (SUDs) [32], eating disorders (EDs) [33], and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [34]. BPD patients who present with acutely symptomatic co-morbidities of these types are often challenging to manage with strictly BPD oriented treatments [35]. Conversely, in SUD and ED treatments, individuals with co-morbid BPD may also present with problems that are difficult to manage in those treatment environments. Efforts to target BPD with its co-morbid disorders simultaneously have been developed and studies of their feasibility and effectiveness have been published in the last 5 years [15•, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38].

What is the treatment for borderline personality disorder?

The main treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a combination of counseling and medication.

What type of therapy is used for BPD?

Depending on your symptoms and situation, your counselor may use one of these types of psychotherapy: Dialectical Behavior Therapy ( DBT) began as a way to help manage crisis behavior, such as suicidal behavior or self-harm. It is the most commonly recommended therapy for BPD.

What is the difference between Schema-Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on changing the basics of what you believe about yourself and others. Schema-Focused Therapy is similar to CBT in how it reframes negative thoughts about yourself into positive ones.

How is Schema-Focused Therapy similar to CBT?

Schema-Focused Therapy is similar to CBT in how it reframes negative thoughts about yourself into positive ones.

How to start a treatment plan for a syphilis?

Being consistent with your treatment -- taking medications on schedule, keeping counseling appointments -- is the best way to start. Routine is helpful in other ways, too. Regular meal and sleep times let your body know what to expect. Try to exercise daily too.

Do you need to go to the hospital for BPD?

Since behaviors of self-harm like cutting and suicide attempts are part of the symptoms of BPD, you may need to receive treatment in the hospital.

What is the best medication for borderline personality disorder?

Mood Stabilizers. While research is limited, some mood stabilizers, including lamotrigine and topiramate, have been shown to reduce aggression in people with borderline personality disorder. For this reason, these medications are only recommended for people who have difficulty controlling aggressive behavior.

How does a psychodynamic therapist help a person with borderline personality disorder?

A psychodynamic therapist can help a person with borderline personality disorder identify and process past experiences and re-shape beliefs about relationships that were derived from experiences with their parents and other authority figures.

What is DBT used for?

It has become one of the most widely used and effective interventions for borderline personality disorder and is now used to treat mood and trauma-based disorders as well. DBT combines CBT techniques with techniques drawn from meditation and mindfulness practices.

Why are SSRIs prescribed for borderline personality disorder?

For these reasons, SSRIs are often prescribed to people with borderline personality disorder to improve emotional regulation and impulse control. Mood Stabilizers.

Why is it important to evaluate clients with borderline personality disorder?

It is important that clinicians evaluate clients with borderline personality disorder for co-occurring conditions and address them in treatment. Anxiety: Most people with borderline personality disorder have comorbid anxiety disorders. The combined effects of these co-occurring conditions can make interpersonal situations especially painful ...

What is the purpose of atypical antipsychotics?

They are often used to stabilize mood, reduce aggression and improve cognitive symptoms that arise in a wide range of psychiatric conditions. Research supports the use of aripiprazole (Abilify) and olanzapine (Zyprexa) to help people with borderline personality disorder manage aggression, affective instability or impulse control problems.

What is psychodynamic therapy?

The focus in psychodynamic therapy is on helping clients gain insights into the origins of their psychological complexes, which often lie in childhood experiences. By bringing unconscious reactions or beliefs from childhood into the light of conscious awareness , a person can be freed from them and learn how to make more conscious choices about what they believe and how they act as adults.

How to treat borderline personality disorder?

Treatments. Talk therapy . Medications. Self-care. Next steps. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) can have a big impact on your mood, relationships, and daily life. The good news is that therapy and a good self-care routine can greatly reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life. BPD means something different for everyone.

What is the best treatment for BPD?

The most effective treatment for BPD is individual psychotherapy and, sometimes, group therapy . Right now, there aren’t any FDA-approved medications for BPD; however, in some cases, antidepressants and mood stabilizers may be helpful.

What is schema therapy?

Schema-focused therapy (SFT) is a twice-weekly therapy that combines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with psychodynamic and emotion-focused therapy. SFT therapists believe that people with BPD may adopt one of four schemas: 1 detached protector 2 punitive parent 3 abandoned/abused child 4 angry/impulsive child

What are the symptoms of BPD?

Other symptoms of BPD can include extreme changes in mood, impulsive behavior, chronic feelings of emptiness, relationship difficulties, and substance use. BPD can also cause you to see others as entirely good or bad, which is a defense mechanism called “ splitting .”.

How many people have BPD?

BPD is a mental health condition that affects approximately 1.6% of the general population. One older research study found that after 2 years of therapy, 35% of individuals with BPD were in remission, meaning they had fewer symptoms and felt much better.

What happens when you have BPD?

BPD can cause profound fears of abandonment and rejection.

What are the other mental health issues that can be caused by BPD?

If you’ve been diagnosed with BPD, you may also experience other mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). An effective treatment plan should consider all co-occurring issues, too.

What is the treatment for borderline personality disorder?

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is the main treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD). Several types of therapy may benefit people with BPD, and each type takes a different approach. This article explores the potential benefits of five types of therapy for people with BPD:

What is the treatment for BPD?

Trusted Source. of people in the United States. Its main treatment is psychotherapy, otherwise known as talk therapy. Talk therapy teaches people vital skills for managing their thoughts and emotions. There are many types, and each has its own aims and methods.

How long does BPD stay in remission?

91% went into remission after 10 years. 99% were in remission after 16 years. In this study, 75% of participants experienced remission for at least 8 years. However, therapy does not cure BPD — the symptoms can come and go throughout a person’s life.

What is a STEPPS therapy?

STEPPS therapy is is a skills-based group program that people attend alongside other types of therapy. It frames BPD as an “emotional intensity disorder” and helps people regulate their emotions and behaviors.

What is MBT in psychology?

MBT teaches people that they may be interpreting the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of others incorrectly. It encourages them to step back and assess whether their thoughts and beliefs are useful and realistic.

What is the purpose of DBT?

The aim is to teach skills that enhance mindfulness, help tolerate distress, regulate emotions, and manage relationships. Clinical psychologist Dr. Marsha Linehan developed DBT for people with BPD and suicidal thoughts. It is similar to cognitive behavioral therapy, but DBT focuses more on emotions and relationships.

What are the best therapies for BPD?

This article explores the potential benefits of five types of therapy for people with BPD: 1 dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) 2 mentalization-based therapy (MBT) 3 schema therapy (ST) 4 transference-focused therapy (TFP) 5 systems training for emotional predictability and problem solving (STEPPS)

What are the best medications for BPD?

Medications can be helpful in treating some of the symptoms of BPD. 5  While drugs are not always needed, some of the more commonly prescribed include: 1 Antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) commonly used in first-line therapy 2 Antipsychotics, such as Zyprexa (olanzapine) which is known to reduce impulsivity, hostility, and psychotic symptoms of BPD 3 Mood stabilizers, including Topamax (topiramate), Lamictal (lamotrigine), and Depakote (valproate semisodium) which may be useful in treating BPD aggression 4 Anti-anxiety medications, including Ativan (lorazepam), Klonopin (clonazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), and Valium (diazepam)

What are the other mental health disorders that are associated with BPD?

According to a report from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 85% of people with BPD will have at least one other mental health disorder, including anxiety disorders, impulse-control disorders, substance abuse or dependence disorders, and mood disorders (like major depressive disorder or MDD). 1 .

How long does it take for BPD to go into remission?

What they found was that remission (defined as no longer meeting the diagnostic criteria for at least two years) tended to occur spontaneously within two to eight years of the diagnosis and initial treatment.

What is the backbone of BPD?

Psychotherapy. The backbone treatment for BPD is psychotherapy , also known as talk therapy. 4  Among the various approaches: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the foundational structured approach to talk therapy incorporated into all other forms of psychotherapy .

How many co-occurring conditions are there in BPD?

People with BPD will often meet the criteria for other personality disorders as well. The average number of co-occurring conditions in BPD is three . These co-occurring conditions (also known as comorbidities) can make treatment far more complex and result in delayed or missed diagnoses due to overlapping symptoms.

What is MBT therapy?

Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) aims to improve mentalization (the process by which we make sense of each other and ourselves, implicitly and explicitly).

How to be a good therapist?

Therapy relies heavily on trust and open interaction. Take the time to interview several therapists, zeroing in on someone with whom you feel safe, comfortable, and supported. Educate yourself. Take the time to learn about your condition and become an advocate in your own care .

What is it like to have a borderline personality disorder?

Imagine struggling to manage stress, rejection or conflict. This is what it’s like to live with Borderline Personality Disorder ( BPD ): a mental health condition characterized by a pattern of ongoing instability in moods, behavior, self-image and functioning.

What is DBT therapy?

DBT is a combination of group therapy and individual treatment designed to help therapists offer the best treatment possible . What makes DBT unique and effective is its focus on teaching participants a set of behavioral skills that help them cope with their difficult symptoms.

How long does it take to learn DBT?

Each skill is a separate module of DBT and it takes a full year to go through all four modules in group therapy. Some may choose to repeat a module to help make those specific skills stick—like Randy, who repeated all the modules twice and the distress tolerance module three times because that’s the skill he struggles with the most. It takes a lot of time and energy to learn these coping mechanisms and implement them when symptoms flare.

How did Randy get diagnosed with BPD?

Randy* was diagnosed with BPD at 17 after a suicide attempt landed him in the hospital. “The concept of being able to like yourself and want to live just went over my head,” he explained. “I also couldn’t handle being rejected. If I sent a text message and they didn’t get back to me for five minutes, I’d already be thinking about killing myself.”

What is interpersonal effectiveness?

Interpersonal Effectiveness: Asking for what you want and saying no when you need to (while still maintaining self-respect and healthy relationships)

Is DBT effective for BPD?

Research shows it’s incredibly effective—one study from 2014 showed that 77% of participants no longer met criteria for BPD diagnosis after undergoing treatment. DBT is recognized as the “gold standard” for people with BPD. “It’s weird how much better I’ve gotten from it.

What is the first line of treatment for borderline personality disorder?

Psychotherapy is the first-line treatment for people with borderline personality disorder. A therapist can provide one-on-one treatment between the therapist and patient, or treatment in a group setting. Therapist-led group sessions may help teach people with borderline personality disorder how to interact with others and how to effectively express themselves.

Who is included in borderline personality disorder therapy?

Some borderline personality disorder therapies include family members, caregivers, or loved ones in treatment sessions. This type of therapy helps by:

What are the traumatic events that borderline personality disorder can cause?

Many people with borderline personality disorder report experiencing traumatic life events, such as abuse, abandonment, or adversity during childhood. Others may have been exposed to unstable, invalidating relationships, and hostile conflicts.

Why is it important to get along with a therapist?

The very nature of borderline personality disorder can make it difficult for people with the disorder to maintain a comfortable and trusting bond with their therapist.

What is borderline personality disorder?

Overview. Borderline personality disorder is an illness marked by an ongoing pattern of varying moods, self-image, and behavior. These symptoms often result in impulsive actions and problems in relationships. People with borderline personality disorder may experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that can last ...

What can help rule out other possible causes of symptoms?

Performing a careful and thorough medical exam, which can help rule out other possible causes of symptoms

Do borderline personality disorders need evidence based treatment?

But, with newer, evidence-based treatment, many people with the disorder experience fewer or less severe symptoms, and an improved quality of life. It is important that people with borderline personality disorder receive evidence-based, specialized treatment from an appropriately trained provider.

How is Borderline Personality Disorder treated?

The treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has changed greatly over the past fifty years. With the development of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and advancement in medications to manage secondary BPD symptoms and common co-occurring disorders, there is much hope regarding the treatment and outcome of people with BPD. Individuals diagnosed with BPD have many treatment options and supports available.

What is the best treatment for BPD?

Psychotherapy is the most effective form of treatment for BPD and has been refined and studied for several years. Due to the characterological nature of the disorder, long-term therapy in conjunction with psychopharmaceuticals to manage symptoms appears to be the most effective approach to the treatment of BPD. While DBT is often seen as the most efficacious treatment approach, there are several approaches that can result in positive outcomes and individual growth.

How long does it take for a person to improve after a DBT?

In general, people report improvement after six months of treatment with significant and lasting change occurring at around two years. DBT focuses on building skills in four areas; mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. 8 This approach to the treatment of BPD blends behaviorism, humanism, and mindfulness to allow for holistic and sustainable progress.

How does BPD benefit people?

Individuals diagnosed with BPD can benefit from using coping skills, learning about the disorder, and incorporating self-help strategies into their daily living. Being aware of symptoms, triggers, and coping skills allows people with BPD to be more intentional in social interactions and increase positive relationships.

How does transference therapy help with BPD?

The goal of transference-focused psychotherapy with BPD is to help people integrate views of self and others in a more effective manner through the therapist identifying interaction patterns and helping the individual to create more satisfying relationships in their present environment. 6 This approach to the treatment of BPD has shown to increase reflective functioning, in turn impacting personality organization. 3 A transference-focused psychotherapist will likely not provide their advice or opinions, but rather assist the individual in understanding reactions and social interactions.

How many people have borderline personality disorder?

Borderline Personality Disorder impacts roughly 1.5% of people worldwide. 2 This disorder is frequently associated with trauma in childhood and a family history of personality disorders. This disorder is chronic and pervasive. Due to the lifelong nature of this disorder, finding and utilizing effective treatment is paramount to meaningful life outcomes. There are several treatment approaches that show success in treating and managing BPD.

What is the difference between MBT and BPD?

This approach for treatment of BPD incorporates the process of mentalizing, which is how we make sense of ourselves and each other in our subjective daily experiences from a cognitive standpoint. MBT is a highly structured and time-limited approach that incorporates interventions to promote the development of mentalizing. This approach to treatment allows people to understand their own feelings and thoughts and create an alternative and healthier perspective.

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