title: Psychotherapy integration in the treatment of personality disorders: a commentary.
abstract: Whereas research on the treatment of personality disorders over the past several decades has focused primarily on comparing the efficacy of various treatment packages associated with different theoretical models, there is increasing evidence that the field would benefit from focusing more attention on developing integrative treatments that are both informed by research and capable of scientific verification. The articles assembled for this special section each propose a different approach to integrative treatment for personality disorders. In this commentary, we outline a number of reasons for making such a shift to more integrative treatments, consider some of the potential challenges to integration, and discuss the different approaches to integration illustrated in these articles. We highlight some of the difficult tradeoffs that must be made in developing an integrative approach and discuss similarities and differences in the response to such challenges by the contributors to this special section. Finally, we point to several areas for future research that we believe will contribute to the development of increasingly effective treatments for individuals with personality disorders.
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University, PA, USA. dlnelson@udel.edu
authors.forename: Dana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Larry E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Beutler
authors.forename: Louis G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Castonguay
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index