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Fundamentals of Transference-Focused Psychotherapy pp 187–230Cite as

Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP) Principles in the Management of Co-occurring Medical and Personality Disorder Symptoms

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Abstract

The interface between personality disorder pathology and issues related to medical conditions and medical care is complex. Patients with personality disorder diagnoses will often have co-occurring medical conditions (some directly related to the personality disorder symptoms, such as the results of self-injury), and personality disorder pathology can sometimes undermine a patient’s access to medical care, even if the medical complaints are not directly related to the personality disorder diagnosis. Transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP) has principles to guide therapists in the management of co-occurring psychiatric and medical complaints. In addition, TFP principles can be of use to clinicians in a variety of medical fields who will see patients with personality disorder pathology in their practices but will not necessarily assume responsibility for these patients’ psychiatric treatment. TFP principles in these settings can include consideration of a personality disorder diagnosis, active contracting, and monitoring of countertransference.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research, New York, NY, USA

    Richard G. Hersh & Eve Caligor

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical Center, Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research, New York, NY, USA

    Frank E. Yeomans

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  2. Eve Caligor
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  3. Frank E. Yeomans
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Hersh, R.G., Caligor, E., Yeomans, F.E. (2016). Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP) Principles in the Management of Co-occurring Medical and Personality Disorder Symptoms. In: Fundamentals of Transference-Focused Psychotherapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44091-0_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44091-0_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-44089-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-44091-0

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