The person with a borderline personality is considered to be neither neurotic nor psychotic, but to exist somewhere in between these two diagnostic categories. Psychoanalytic theorists who have researched the phenomenon of the borderline personality have shifted their emphasis away from Freud's instinct psychology and toward an ego psychology…

Provides counselors with an overview of narcissism and its treatment. In the first section, dysfunctional narcissism is described, drawing on the diagnostic indicators presented in the DSM-III and the contemporary object relations theories of Heinz Kohut and Otto Kerberg. The second section focuses on counseling narcissistic clients. (Author/JAC)

Reviews studies of impact of comorbidity of personality disorders and depression on response to various forms of treatment. Notes that findings support belief that personality disorders are associated with poorer response to treatment for depression. Also notes that limited data available suggest that depression may be positive prognostic…

Summary article blends commentaries from the six previous articles in this special journal section on comorbidity. Includes a discussion of various definitions of comorbidity, the merits and demerits of a hierarchical diagnostic system, and consideration of the extent, patterning, and nature of comorbidity. Directive comments with reference to…

Presents a literature review on the day treatment of borderline patients and discusses the diagnosis and dynamics of borderline adolescents. Describes methods used in a day hospital program whose goal was to potentiate a successful start of a longer-term psychotherapeutic process that would continue after discharge. Difficulties in prognosis and…

Presents two case examples illustrating nature and etiology of multiple personality disorder in two clients and describing their entry into counseling and progress through treatment. Compares and contrasts cases in areas of diagnosis, symptoms, history, and treatment. Suggests that mental health counselors combine firmness with flexibility in…

Attempts to define interrelationship of personality disorders. Discusses relationships between and among three major groupings of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Suggests that passive aggressive, avoidant, and borderline personality disorders serve as bridges between these groupings. Discusses placement within groupings with…

Briefly describes Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and explains Relationship Enhancement (RE) marital and family therapy. Provides rationale for understanding BPD as manifestation of lack of differentiation in intimate relationships, followed by explanation of how RE fosters differentiation between partners. Includes case study. (Author/NB)

Discusses the borderline adolescent in terms of diagnostic perspectives, characteristic features based on disturbed object relations, and treatment. Based on clinical observations, the diagnosis of borderline personality is considered to be compatible with a schizophrenic disorder. Day-treatment and individual therapy are considered from a…

Presents several perspectives on maladaptive perfectionism. Discusses origins and characteristics of this congnitive-behavioral pattern. Offers treatment recommendations for college students troubled by ego-dystonic perfectionism. (Author/CM)

Empirical studies based on psychoanalytic model have concentrated on study of therapeutic process and diagnostic groups such as borderline personality disorder (BPD). Work in BPD provides paradigm for future approaches in study of second-order inferences removed from immediate observational field. Concept of structure may be clarified by empirical…

Considers definitional, methodological, and theoretical issues of comorbidity, then reviews data on comorbidity among anxiety disorders as well as data on comorbidity of anxiety disorders with depressive, personality, and substance use disorders. Presents treatment implications with preliminary data on effects of psychosocial treatment of panic…

Explores marital and family therapy in treatment of Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), discussing role of family of origin in MPD development and role of nuclear family in its perpetuation. Suggests family and marital interventions, illustrating them with case examples. Proposes involving MPD client in marital or family therapy, in addition to…

Addresses the crisis associated with adolescent affective disorders and probes potential genetics, environmental, and physiological factors. Reviews case examples of depression, eating disorders, and suicide among youths. States clinical implications and advocates early diagnosis and treatment. (ML)

Critically reviews characteristics thought to be associated with "difficult clients" in light of research findings emerging from psychiatric and psychological literature pertaining to Borderline Personality Disorder. Reviews recent developments for brief treatment strategies and describes development of short-term interpersonal therapy…