ABSTRACT

The previous chapter outlined some of the more typical behavioural problems associated with antisocial personality disorder. This chapter concentrates on the wide range of behavioural problems that are common in individuals with borderline personality disorder. Targeting specific behavioural problems with appropriate behavioural techniques is vital to the success of cognitive therapy. As in all personality disorders, changes in behaviour are matched with changes in dysfunctional core beliefs. Again a detailed cognitive behavioural formulation and an analysis of problem behaviours is an essential first step in treatment. Sometimes this task is made more difficult because borderline patients often lack analytical skills and tend to describe problems and situations in a global, undifferentiated style. A therapist may have to spend a considerable amount of time in training a patient to analyse a situation or problem behaviourally, but the effort involved is well spent as this step is important in effective treatment.