Borderline Personality Disorder

This is an essential book for both clinicians and researchers. There are many books on borderline personality disorder but this is the only one which comprehensively integrates current understanding of the disorder with empirical evidence and systematically links it with daily clinical practice. In the first edition of this book John Gunderson provided an exemplary clinical guide to the treatment of the disorder. In this up-dated edition, he excels. As a master clinician, he draws on a lifetime's experience to answer common but complex clinical questions; as a master researcher, he assesses the relevance of research to daily practice; and as an authority he brings balance, clarity and scholarship to his discussion of competing approaches to treatment. This is an exceptional book which should be read by every practitioner treating patients with borderline personality disorder. Prof Anthony W Bateman M.A., FRCPsych, Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, Halliwick Unit, Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey Mental Health Trust; Visiting Professor University College, London.

Covering the range of clinical presentations, treatments, and levels of care, this book provides a comprehensive guide to the diagnosis and treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD). It includes new research about BPD's relationship to other disorders and up-to-date descriptions of empirically validated treatments.

Covering the range of clinical presentations, treatments, and levels of care, Borderline Personality Disorder: A Clinical Guide, Second Edition, provides a comprehensive guide to the diagnosis and treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD). The second edition includes new research about BPD's relationship to other disorders and up-to-date descriptions of empirically validated treatments, including cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic approaches. Compelling new research also indicates a much better prognosis for BPD than previously known.

A pioneer in the field, author John Gunderson, M.D., director of the Borderline Personality Disorder Center at McLean Hospital, draws from nearly 40 years of research and clinical experience. The guide begins with a clear and specific definition of BPD, informed by a nuanced overview of the historical evolution of the diagnosis and a thoughtful discussion of misdiagnosis. Offering a complete evaluation of treatment approaches, Dr. Gunderson provides an authoritative overview of the treatment options and describes in-depth each modality of treatment, including pharmacotherapy, family therapy, individual and group therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapies.

Unlike other works, this book guides clinicians in using multiple modalities, including the sequence of treatments and the types of changes that can be expected from each mode. The discussion of each treatment emphasizes empirically validated therapies, helping clinicians choose modalities that work best for specific patients. In addition, Borderline Personality Disorder: A Clinical Guide, Second Edition, also outlines therapeutic approaches for multiple settings, such as hospitalization, partial hospitalization or day hospital programs, and levels of outpatient care.

Complementing the well-organized treatment guide are a series of informative and intriguing sidebars, providing insight into the subjective experience of BPD, addressing myths about therapeutic alliances in BPD, and questioning the efficacy of contracting for safety. Throughout the book, Dr. Gunderson recommends specific do's and don'ts for disclosing the diagnosis, discussing medications, meeting with families, starting psychotherapy, and managing suicidality.

A synthesis of theory and practical examples, Borderline Personality Disorder: A Clinical Guide, Second Edition, provides a thorough and practical manual for any clinician working with BPD patients.