Short-Term Psychotherapy for the Borderline Personality Disorder

Abstract

This paper presents concepts of short-term therapy as utilized with borderline personality disorder. Criteria for patient selection as well as contraindications for its use are presented. Many clinical symptoms are rubricated under borderline disorders. One major consideration in diagnosis is based on the discernment of when developmental arrests have occurred. The author’s opinion is that short-term integrative psychotherapeutic procedures can be beneficial for patients struggling with any of the developmental subphases. The concepts expressed in this paper are mostly applicable to more developed individuals, who have progressed in differentiating themselves from others, but who still present primitive characteristics and relationships.

Comparative effects of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy: A meta-analysis.

“…Over the last 10–15 years, the field of STPP has witnessed the proliferation of new variants that have attempted to enlarge the scope of STPP beyond healthier patients with circumscribed neurotic difficulties. With more or less success, the techniques of STPP have been used with major depressives (Thompson, Gallagher, & Breckenridge, 1987), addicts (Woody et al, 1983), patients with mild personality disorders (Davanloo, 1978; Winston et al, in press), and even patients with severe personality disorders (Lazarus, 1982; Leibovich, 1981).…”

Systemic work with clients with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder

“…Individual theorists (Adler, 1985;Bateman, 2004;Bateman and Tyrer, 2004;Gunderson, 2002Gunderson, , 2004Hellerstein et al, 2004;Herman, 1992;206 Susan A. Lord Leibovich, 1981;Linehan, 1993;Livesley, 2005aLivesley, , 2005bMiller, 1996;Paris, 2005;Russell, 1975;Teicholz and Kriegman, 1998;Winnicott, 1947Winnicott, , 1965 locate the developmental failure in people with a diagnosis of BPD as occurring in the area of relationships. They identify inconsistent parenting that vacillates between smothering and abandonment and offers little in the way of object constancy.…”

“…Coordination of multiple brief treatments. A long‐term therapist who remains constant throughout can carve out doable pieces of work with clients with BPD such that they are able to experience tolerable small successes (Leibovich, 1981). I encourage clients to try new things: to become involved in a group, take a course, participate in a day treatment programme, do some volunteer work or join a workshop.…”