Psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder : mentalization-based treatment / Anthony W. Bateman and Peter Fonagy.

Summary: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a severe personality dysfunction. The first section of this book gives an overview of BPD, including discussion of nosology, epidemiology, natural history, and psychosocial aetiology. This book is useful for mental health professionals, along with counsellors, psychotherapists, and psychoanalysts.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 323-371) and index.

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.

The authors of this volume have developed a psychoanalytically oriented treatment to borderline personality disorder known as mentalization treatment. With randomized controlled trials having shown this method to be effective, this book presents the first account of mentalization treatment for BPD.