Treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder is a treatable illness. In the last two decades scientific research has made significant progress towards a better understanding of the symptoms and experiences of those with this diagnosis and what works and tends not to work in various treatment settings.

There are now several evidence-based psychological therapies that are effective in the treatment for people with Borderline Personality Disorder.

A recent study - Treatment of Personality Disorder (Lancet – Batemen, Gunderson and Mulder 2015) shows that the effectiveness of various evidence based modalities was identical.  Paper may be accessed here (need to create a login - free access)

Clinicians that have received training and are providing treatment for people with a BPD diagnosis may utilise a range of different types of approaches to treatment. These treatments share common features that have been found to be effective in assisting people recover from BPD. Research indicates 

Medication is not a person’s main treatment for BPD because evidence has shown that medicines usually only provide minimal relief of symptoms for people with BPD and do not improve other aspects of the illness.

Psychiatric inpatient hospital stays should generally be brief and be directed at the achievement of specific goals that are agreed upon by the clinician and the patient at the time of admission.

Admission to psychiatric inpatient facilities may be deemed necessary when a person’s situation is experienced as overwhelming and there is significant risk to themselves or others.

Public inpatient care is generally reserved for short-term crisis intervention for people with co-occurring mental illness or those at high risk of suicide or medically serious self-harm.

'The latest Development in the Treatment of BPD' - A/Prof Sathya Rao
National BPD Awareness Week Conference 2020

Hear A/Prof Sathya Rao in this online forum to learn from an expert in the field of treating people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). He gives a brief update on the latest development on the treatment of people with BPD and responded to questions asked by the participants.
Bio:
A/Prof Sathya Rao is the Clinical Director of Spectrum, Personality Disorder Service in Victoria. He is a pioneer within Australia in the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder and his passion for research, evidence-based practice and teaching has inspired hundreds of health professionals within Australia and abroad to specialise in this area too. His quiet determination to dedicate himself to working with people living with Borderline Personality Disorder has saved lives and changed families forever. Last week he received the RANZCP Victorian Branch Meritorious Award in acknowledgment of his contribution over many years toward understanding and supporting patients with Borderline Personality Disorder and his immense contribution to clinical services, training and education and research.

'Advances in the Treatment of BPD' - Dr J Beatson
National BPD Awareness Day 2011

Dr. Josephine Beatson is a Senior Clinical Advisor to Spectrum Personality Disorder Service Victoria and a Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist with over 20 years experience in public and private settings. She has a particular interest in the understanding and treatment of severe personality disorders and promotion of reflective practice with patients with BPD.