Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverviewPsychotherapyMedicationsHospitalizationSelf-HelpEmergency Situations
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
Psychotherapy
Medications
Hospitalization
Self-Help
Emergency Situations
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There are a variety of effective treatments forborderline personality disorder(BPD). What treatments seem to work best, and what should I know about the options available?
Usually, BPD is treated with a combination of medication and psychotherapy, although during times of crisis, individuals with BPD may require brief periods of hospitalization to remain safe. More recently, self-help tools have been developed to supplement traditional treatments for BPD.
Long-term outpatientpsychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” is an important part of any treatment for BPD. Research has shown that several types of psychotherapy are effective in reducing the symptoms of BPD,including:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical behavior therapy(DBT) was the first form of psychotherapy found to be effective for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT is a form ofcognitive behavior therapy(CBT), which focuses on how thoughts and beliefs can lead to actions and behaviors. In this therapy, people learn how to manage distress and learn skills to help them cope with strong emotions. Mindfulness is a component of this approach.
Schema-Focused Therapy
Schema-focused therapyis an integrative psychotherapy incorporating aspects from cognitive behavior therapy and psychoanalytic theories. Schema-focused therapy operates with the thought that unmet needs from childhood can lead to unhealthy ways of thinking about the world. This therapy focuses on challenging thesemaladaptivebeliefs and behaviors and focusing on healthier ways of thinking and coping.
Mentalization-Based Therapy
Mentalization-based therapyhas been studied for BPD and may help with anxiety and depression as well as social functioning. This therapy focuses on helping the client to recognize mental states—their own thoughts and feelings, as well as the thoughts and feelings of others they communicate with. Through recognition, they are then able to see how these thoughts contribute to their behavior or the behavior of others.
Transference-Focused Psychotherapy
Transference-focused psychotherapyhas been studied for BPD and may be as good or better than dialectical behavior therapy according to these studies. This therapy uses the concept of transference—transferring feelings and expectations from early relationships on to a person in the present, which is a key concept in psychodynamic therapies. Transference-focused psychotherapy utilizes the relationship between the client and the therapist so that the therapist can see how a client relates to others. The therapist can then use this awareness to help a person respond more effectively in their other relationships.
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Some of the most commonly prescribedmedications for BPDinclude:
Other potential treatments, such as omega-3-fatty acids, are also being explored. The best evidence for medication benefit in BPD involve second-generation antipsychotics and mood stabilizers.
The best way to see which, if any, medication options are right for you is to speak with your doctor or psychiatrist. They can help iron out a plan of action for getting symptoms under control.
Borderline Personality Disorder Discussion GuideGet our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment.Download PDFSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
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Borderline personality disorder is associated with very intense emotional experiences. Sometimes people with BPD are admitted to a psychiatric hospital to maintain safety. Inpatient treatment requires you to stay overnight in the hospital.
Another treatment option is partial hospitalization or day treatment. These are programs that are more intensive than traditional outpatient psychotherapy but do not require you to stay overnight. You may be enrolled in a partial hospital or day program if you may be headed toward a crisis, or if you have just been discharged from inpatient hospitalization and need a period of more intensive treatment to make sure the crisis does not reemerge.
Self-help strategies for BPDare an essential part of any treatment program. Of course, these should be used to supplement care from a qualified therapist and not alone. An ideal plan includes learning as much as you can about your disorder through self-help education, learninghealthy coping skills for BPD, and finding ways to help you express and manage your emotions.
There are valuable self-help resources available for BPD that can be used in conjunction with more traditional forms of treatment. Books and online resources offer information about BPD and suggest ways to cope with the symptoms.
What to Do in an Emergency
If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health emergency, it is critical that you get help immediately. Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If there is evidence that you (or your loved one) are a danger to yourself or others, you may be admitted for a brief hospital stay on an inpatient psychiatric unit until the crisis has passed. It’s recommended that anyone living with BPD put together asafety plan for BPD. In this plan, you can anticipate a crisis and make a plan for exactly how you will address your feelings before they become an emergency.
3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Combs G, Oshman L.Pearls for Working with People Who Have Personality Disorder Diagnoses.Primary Care. 2016. 43(2):263-8. doi:10.106/j.pop.2016.02.001Stoffers J, Vollm B, Rucker G, et al.Psychological Therapies for People with Borderline Personality Disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(8):CD005652. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005652.pub2Stoffers, J., and K. Lieb.Pharmacotherapy for borderline personality disorder – Current evidence and recent trends.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2015;17(1):534. doi:10.1007/s11920-014-0534-0
3 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Combs G, Oshman L.Pearls for Working with People Who Have Personality Disorder Diagnoses.Primary Care. 2016. 43(2):263-8. doi:10.106/j.pop.2016.02.001Stoffers J, Vollm B, Rucker G, et al.Psychological Therapies for People with Borderline Personality Disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(8):CD005652. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005652.pub2Stoffers, J., and K. Lieb.Pharmacotherapy for borderline personality disorder – Current evidence and recent trends.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2015;17(1):534. doi:10.1007/s11920-014-0534-0
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Combs G, Oshman L.Pearls for Working with People Who Have Personality Disorder Diagnoses.Primary Care. 2016. 43(2):263-8. doi:10.106/j.pop.2016.02.001Stoffers J, Vollm B, Rucker G, et al.Psychological Therapies for People with Borderline Personality Disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(8):CD005652. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005652.pub2Stoffers, J., and K. Lieb.Pharmacotherapy for borderline personality disorder – Current evidence and recent trends.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2015;17(1):534. doi:10.1007/s11920-014-0534-0
Combs G, Oshman L.Pearls for Working with People Who Have Personality Disorder Diagnoses.Primary Care. 2016. 43(2):263-8. doi:10.106/j.pop.2016.02.001
Stoffers J, Vollm B, Rucker G, et al.Psychological Therapies for People with Borderline Personality Disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(8):CD005652. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005652.pub2
Stoffers, J., and K. Lieb.Pharmacotherapy for borderline personality disorder – Current evidence and recent trends.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2015;17(1):534. doi:10.1007/s11920-014-0534-0
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