How Is Borderline Personality Disorder Treated?
Available with English captions and subtitles in Spanish.
What are the common treatments for BPD? McLean’s Dr. Lois Choi-Kain talks about different treatment options including first-line therapies like general psychiatric management, dialectical behavior therapy, and more.
Treatment for BPD
According to Choi-Kain, “What we know works in the treatment of borderline personality disorder is to have a very predictable and structured framework for what the patient can expect.”
“At the same time, we believe that it’s important for families to be involved, to be a critical support system for the patient when that’s appropriate.”
In the last two decades, there have been several treatment approaches that have been qualified as effective for borderline personality disorder.
These therapies include:
- Dialectical behavior therapy – gives patient skills to manage their emotional sensitivities
- Mentalization-based treatment – helps people think realistically and flexibly about their relationships
- Transference-focused psychotherapy – helps people manage the instabilities of their relationships and the anger and aggression that they express there
- General psychiatric management – also known as good psychiatric management, this is a more structured, basic approach to managing BPD through diagnosis, education, and focus on functionality
Medications can help with symptoms while people get psychotherapeutic treatments that can really remedy the core symptoms of borderline personality disorder.
People with BPD who do get help can respond to treatment and build a meaningful life if they can control their symptoms.
