title: [Psychotherapy of borderline personality disorder: critical factors and proposals of intervention].
abstract: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) represents a significant therapeutic challenge. Critical factors in psychotherapeutic treatment of patients with BPD are noticeable and strictly related to the psychopathological dimensions of this disorder: affective and relational instability, behavioral impulsivity and precarious definition of identity. These features are emphasized by therapeutic intervention and become evident during the course of the treatment. Psychotherapeutic setting induces BPD patient to actualize the dysfunctional relational patterns that have been acquired during childhood. Specific critical factors concern the characteristics of the patient (risk of suicide, aggressive behaviors, chronic course of the disorder, disorganized attachment style), of the therapist (therapeutic skills, training, countertransference, risk of burnout) and of the setting of psychotherapy (patients selection, therapeutic alliance, need to set limits, duration and end of therapy). In Otto Kernberg's and Marsha Linehan's models of psychotherapy specific for DBP the authors identify substantially overlapping objectives and modalities of intervention. In particular, therapists should take care of patient safety, maintain boundaries of therapeutic setting and promote the development of psychotherapeutic process. The aim of this article is to analyze the main critical factors affecting psychotherapeutic process in patients with BPD. Objectives and priorities that therapist should consider to address these issues will be discussed. We will also try to make clear why interpersonal psychotherapy adapted to DBP can represent one of the therapeutic models that may be useful to manage and resolve these difficulties.
authors.affiliation: Centro per i Disturbi di Personalità, Clinica Psichiatrica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università di Torino.
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellino
authors.affiliation: Centro per i Disturbi di Personalità, Clinica Psichiatrica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università di Torino.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.affiliation: Centro per i Disturbi di Personalità, Clinica Psichiatrica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università di Torino.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bozzatello
mesh_terms: D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D004645:Empathy; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000628:therapy*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D000092864:Suicide Prevention