title: Behavioral activation and the prevention of suicidal behaviors in patients with borderline personality disorder.
abstract: Clinical approaches in treating and preventing suicidal behaviors in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have received limited attention. To stimulate further work in this area, we present a behavioral activation treatment for depression (BATD; Lejuez, Hopko, & Hopko, 2002) that has shown promising results in treating clinically depressed patients and a theoretical conceptualization for why BATD may prove particularly useful in reducing the frequency of suicide-related behaviors and other symptoms characteristic of patients with BPD. We also present theoretical consistencies between BATD and the well-established intervention of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT; Linehan, 1993), which may allow for their practical integration, and conclude with a case study that illustrates the assimilation of these strategies in the treatment of a patient with BPD.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-0900, USA. dhopko@utk.edu
authors: Derek R
authors: DR
authors: Hopko
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Sanchez
authors: Sandra D
authors: SD
authors: Hopko
authors: Sharone
authors: S
authors: Dvir
authors: C W
authors: CW
authors: Lejuez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D000092864:Suicide Prevention