ABSTRACT
Whenever patients with Bipolar Personality Disorder (BPD) start to develop more mature behavior patterns or react more assertively with parental figures, they paradoxically become more depressed. This can be an extremely dangerous time for all concerned. For the patient, recurrences of previously controlled self-mutilation or other self-destructive behavior represent a significant risk. Worse still, the risk of a significant and serious suicide attempt may sometimes rise to levels higher than at any previous time. Patients may think that, because they are feeling so bad, they are getting worse and that the therapist's strategy has failed. The therapist's task is to watch for signs of post-individuation depression, particularly after the patient has successfully confronted family members. Whenever the patient is actually behaving in a more functional manner yet seems to become more disturbed or symptomatic, the therapist must address the issue.
