ABSTRACT
Borderline Personality Disorder is a life-threatening disorder characterized by severe cognitive, behavioural and emotional dysregulation. BPD is commonly comorbid with a variety of DSM-IV axis I disorders, most notably substance abuse, panic disorder (PD), eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder. The data on the course of BPD and its chronicity is mixed. Recent research has suggested that the onset of BPD typically is in late childhood. There is one comprehensive family therapy approach to BPD that involves components of systems, dynamic and other theories and practices approach involves working collaboratively with the family to develop a therapeutic alliance and to provide information on the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of BPD. BPD symptoms are reframed in terms of family dynamics, emphasizing the positive aspects of the family's motivation to help the 'identified patient'. Similar to psychodynamic approaches, this treatment focuses on therapeutic transference and attends to familial over-involvement and abuse/neglect.
