title: Borderline personality and alcohol abuse.
abstract: Borderline personality is related to the separation-individuation process and continues in a distinct dysfunctional family pattern. Alcoholism is also transmitted in families. These are two separate conditions that occur independently on one another. However, they both manifest similar pathologic ego-defense mechanisms and they frequently occur together making differential diagnoses difficult but academic. When traditional Alcoholic Anonymous (A.A.) treatment is employed, considerable improvement can be made in these pathologic ego-defenses. This treatment modality can be used in psychotherapy, family therapy, group therapy, or traditional A.A. meetings.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vaccani
mesh_terms: D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012649:Self Concept