Borderline Disorder
Information for affected and their Familiy
Therapy of borderline
For a long time, therapy was considered difficult for patients with borderline personality disorder. In the meantime, experts have developed psycho-analytic methods that match the requirements of borderliners. A specific treatment program is for example a so-called dialectical behaviour therapy that combines several behaviour therapy models and methods.
An important component of the therapy is the acquisition of certain abilities that are aimed to strengthen the patient by completing the five modules inner attentiveness, stress tolerance, conscious handling of emotions, interpersonal abilities and self-confidence. The constant adherence to these modules can construct new connections in the patient’s brain that enable the patient to cope better with the situations of extreme tension. As well as the control of emotion and mood up- and downturns, techniques in order to improve interpersonal relations and coping of stress are being trained. Strategies that should avoid self-harming behaviour are being developed and the typical „black-and-white-pattern” should be reduced through dialogic mediation in order to exchange the “either-or-attitude” by an “as-well-as-attitude” and thereby facilitate everyday life and overreactions.
All forms of therapy for borderline personality disorder patients have in common that the relation between patient and therapist is of great importance as only a harmonic constellation of both make a treatment successful. An integration of the patient’s family in accompanying family therapy or a partner therapy can be useful in order to replace the regular interaction patterns by better ones.
Special trauma therapies can be an appropriate therapy form for patients whose borderline personality disorder is caused by traumatic causes and are aimed at the emotional stabilization of the patient which is followed by the treatment of the trauma experience.
A corresponding pharmacological therapy is mostly defined on the basis of those symptoms which cause discomfort. Antidepressants are mostly used although also serotonin-related medics could be proven to be helpful. Pharmaceuticals are considered effective in fighting depressions, fear and urge for self-harm and aggressive impulses.
Many individuals who suffer from a borderline personality disorder are able to live a relatively normal life. A special threat must be seen in the patient’s affection for self-harm which can be health- or life threatening. Persons concerned are generally aware of their difficulties and the need for their treatment, so that a prompt education about the diagnoses is indispensable. Dialectic behaviour therapies are offered on an inpatient or ambulant basis.
Barbara Kliem
