Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Psychotherapy for Personality Disorders

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences

Synonyms

Axis II; Personality; Psychotherapy; Therapy; Treatment

Definition

Psychotherapy for personality disorders – a group of disorders characterized by long-standing patterns of intra- and interpersonal difficulties – tends to be highly structured, integrative, and often long-term, with special attention made to the relationship between therapist and patient.

Introduction

Personality disorders (PDs) are a heterogeneous group of mental disorders that arise when an individual’s personality is considered impaired and maladaptive. Most definitions of personality disorders stress the chronic, long-standing nature of characteristics and patterns of responding to distress that often are limited in variability and rigidly applied regardless of appropriateness to context (Levy and Johnson 2016). In the latest editions of both the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and the International Classification of Diseases(ICD-10), PDs are described as a pattern of inner...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Barber, J. P., Muran, J. C., McCarthy, K. S., & Keefe, J. R. (2013). Research on dynamic therapies. In Bergin and Garfield’s handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change (pp. 443–494). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartak, A., Andrea, H., Spreeuwenberg, M. D., Ziegler, U. M., Dekker, J., Rossum, B. V., … Emmelkamp, P. M. G. (2011). Effectiveness of outpatient, day hospital, and inpatient psychotherapeutic treatment for patients with cluster B personality disorders. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 80(1), 28–38. https://doi.org/10.1159/000321999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bateman, A., & Fonagy, P. (1999). Effectiveness of partial hospitalization in the treatment of borderline personality disorder: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Psychiatry, 156(10), 1563–1569. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.156.10.1563.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bateman, A., & Fonagy, P. (2006). Mentalization-based treatment for borderline personality disorder: A practical guide. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bateman, A., & Fonagy, P. (2008). Comorbid antisocial and borderline personality disorders: Mentalization-based treatment. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 64(2), 181–194. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20451.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bateman, A., & Fonagy, P. (2009). Randomized controlled trial of outpatient mentalization-based treatment versus structured clinical management for borderline personality disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09040539. Retrieved from http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/.

  • Budge, S. L., Moore, J. T., Del Re, A. C., Wampold, B. E., Baardseth, T. P., & Nienhuis, J. B. (2013). The effectiveness of evidence-based treatments for personality disorders when comparing treatment-as-usual and bona fide treatments. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(8), 1057–1066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2013.08.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clarkin, J. F., Yeomans, F. E., & Kernberg, O. F. (2006). Psychotherapy for borderline personality: Focusing on object relations (1st ed.). Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarkin, J. F., Levy, K. N., Lenzenweger, M. F., & Kernberg, O. F. (2007). Evaluating three treatments for borderline personality disorder: A multiwave study. American Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2007.164.6.922. Retrieved from http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/.

  • Cristea, I. A., Gentili, C., Cotet, C. D., Palomba, D., Barbui, C., & Cuijpers, P. (2017). Efficacy of psychotherapies for borderline personality disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry, 74(4), 319. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.4287.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, K., Norrie, J., Tyrer, P., Gumley, A., Tata, P., Murray, H., & Palmer, S. (2006). The effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder: Results from the borderline personality disorder study of cognitive therapy (BOSCOT) trial. Journal of Personality Disorders, 20(5), 450–465. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi.2006.20.5.450.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Doering, S., Horz, S., Rentrop, M., Fischer-Kern, M., Schuster, P., Benecke, C., … Buchheim, P. (2010). Transference-focused psychotherapy v. treatment by community psychotherapists for borderline personality disorder: Randomised controlled trial. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 196(5), 389–395. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.109.070177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, J. M., Shaw, I. A., & Webber, M. A. (2009). A schema-focused approach to group psychotherapy for outpatients with borderline personality disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 40(2), 317–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2009.01.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gerstley, L., McLellan, A. T., Alterman, A. I., Woody, G. E., Luborsky, L., & Prout, M. (1989). Ability to form an alliance with the therapist: A possible marker of prognosis for patients with antisocial personality disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry; Washington, 146(4), 508–512.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giesen-Bloo, J., Van Dyck, R., Spinhoven, P., Van Tilburg, W., Dirksen, C., Van Asselt, T., … Arntz, A. (2006). Outpatient psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder: randomized trial of schema-focused therapy vs transference-focused psychotherapy. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(6), 649–658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gratz, K. L., & Gunderson, J. G. (2006). Preliminary data on an acceptance-based emotion regulation group intervention for deliberate self-harm among women with borderline personality disorder. Behavior Therapy, 37(1), 25–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregory, R. J., Chlebowski, S., Kang, D., Remen, A. L., Soderberg, M. G., Stepkovitch, J., & Virk, S. (2008). A controlled trial of psychodynamic psychotherapy for co-occurring borderline personality disorder and alcohol use disorder. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 45(1), 28–41. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.45.1.28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gunderson, J. G., & Links, P. (2014). Handbook of good psychiatric management for borderline personality disorder. Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardy, G. E., Barkham, M., Shapiro, D. A., Stiles, W. B., Rees, A., & Reynolds, S. (1995). Impact of Cluster C personality disorders on outcomes of contrasting brief psychotherapies for depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63(6), 997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hellerstein, D. J., Rosenthal, R. N., Pinsker, H., Samstag, L. W., Muran, J. C., & Winston, A. (1998). A randomized prospective study comparing supportive and dynamic therapies: Outcome and alliance. The Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research, 7(4), 261–271.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, B. N., & Levy, K. N. (2017). Personality disorder not otherwise specified (PDNOS). In V. Zeigler-Hill & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of personality and individual differences (pp. 1–11). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_924-1.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, U., Berger, T., Kolly, S., Marquet, P., Preisig, M., de Roten, Y., … Caspar, F. (2011). Effects of motive-oriented therapeutic relationship in early-phase treatment of borderline personality disorder: A pilot study of a randomized trial. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 199(4), 244–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leichsenring, F., & Leibing, E. (2003). The effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy and cognitive behavior therapy in the treatment of personality disorders: A meta-analysis. American Journal of Psychiatry, 160(7), 1223–1232. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.160.7.1223.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leichsenring, F., Masuhr, O., Jaeger, U., Rabung, S., Dally, A., Dümpelmann, M., … Streeck, U. (2016). Psychoanalytic-interactional therapy versus psychodynamic therapy by experts for personality disorders: A randomized controlled efficacy-effectiveness study in cluster B personality disorders. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 85(2), 71–80. https://doi.org/10.1159/000441731.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy, K. N. (2008). Psychotherapies and lasting change. American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(5), 556–559. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2008.08020299.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Levy, K. N. (2012). Subtypes, dimensions, levels, and mental states in narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder: NPD subtypes. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 68(8), 886–897. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21893.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Levy, K. N., & Johnson, B. N. (2016). Personality disorders. In J. C. Norcross, G. R. VandenBos, & D. K. Freedheim (Eds.), APA handbook of clinical psychology: Psychopathology and health (Vol. 4, pp. 173–207). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magnavita, J. J., Levy, K. N., Critchfield, K. L., & Lebow, J. L. (2010). Ethical considerations in treatment of personality dysfunction: Using evidence, principles, and clinical judgment. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 41(1), 64–74. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017733.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Munroe-Blum, H., & Marziali, E. (1995). A controlled trial of short-term group treatment for borderline personality disorder. Journal of Personality Disorders, 9(3), 190–198. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi.1995.9.3.190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muran, J. C., Safran, J. D., Samstag, L. W., & Winston, A. (2005). Evaluating an alliance-focused treatment for personality disorders. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 42(4), 532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paris, J. (2013). Stepped care: An alternative to routine extended treatment for patients with borderline personality disorder. Psychiatric Services (Washington, D.C.), 64(10), 1035–1037. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201200451.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry, J. C., Banon, E., & Ianni, F. (1999). Effectiveness of psychotherapy for personality disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 156(9), 1312–1321. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.156.9.1312.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, J. L., Hayes, A. M., Johnson, S. L., Newman, C. F., Brown, G. K., Barber, J. P., … Beck, A. T. (2006). Early alliance, alliance ruptures, and symptom change in a nonrandomized trial of cognitive therapy for avoidant and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(2), 337–345. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.74.2.337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svartberg, M., Stiles, T. C., & Seltzer, M. H. (2004). Randomized, controlled trial of the effectiveness of short-term dynamic psychotherapy and cognitive therapy for cluster c personality disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161(5), 810–817. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.161.5.810.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weinberg, I., Gunderson, J. G., Hennen, J., & Cutter, C. J., Jr. (2006). Manual assisted cognitive treatment for deliberate self-harm in borderline personality disorder patients. Journal of Personality Disorders, 20(5), 482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winston, A., Laikin, M., Pollack, J., Samstag, L. W., McCullough, L., & Muran, J. C. (1994). Short-term psychotherapy of personality disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 151(2), 190–194. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.151.2.190.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yeomans, F. (2007). Questions concerning the randomized trial of schema-focused therapy vs transference-focused psychotherapy. Archives of General Psychiatry, 64(5), 609–610. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.64.5.609-c.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yeomans, F. E., Levy, K. N., & Caligor, E. (2013). Transference-focused psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, 50(3), 449–453. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033417.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Benjamin N. Johnson, Tracy L. Clouthier, Lia K. Rosenstein & Kenneth N. Levy

Authors
  1. Benjamin N. Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tracy L. Clouthier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lia K. Rosenstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kenneth N. Levy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kenneth N. Levy .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University, Rochester, USA

    Virgil Zeigler-Hill

  2. Oakland University, Rochester, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA

    Bradley A. Green

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Johnson, B.N., Clouthier, T.L., Rosenstein, L.K., Levy, K.N. (2018). Psychotherapy for Personality Disorders. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_925-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_925-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation