title: The use of mentalization-based treatment for adolescents (MBT-A) with a young woman with mixed personality disorder and tendencies to self-harm.
abstract: This article explores the psychological profile and treatment of young people who present clinically with features of borderline and avoidant personality disorder, along with vulnerable narcissistic traits. Self-harm in these youngsters is often used to regulate internal storms. It is argued that the adolescent phase of development is a trigger point for collapse in these vulnerable young people. In therapy, these patients are difficult to connect with emotionally and treatment can be fraught with strong countertransference reactions. A case study is used to illustrate the use of mentalization-based treatment for adolescents for such individuals.
authors.affiliation: North East London NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Trudie I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Rossouw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000628:therapy*; D056345:Theory of Mind / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: MBT-A; adolescence; narcissism; self-harm