Product Description
Object relations theory has been useful in understanding borderline personality disorder, and from this theoretical orientation have emerged effective approaches to its treatment.However, treatment based on the object relations model has tended to emphasize only the structural and technical facets of the psychotherapy enterprise, i.e., the frame of therapy, therapeutic neutrality, and interventions strategies, etc.In Another Chance to Be Real, Donald and Deanda Roberts argue that the incorporation of attachment theory and research enhances the effectiveness of treatment by expanding the clinical focus to include relational and process factors. ... Read more

Product Description
This book explores the world of a person diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and the havoc it has wreaked on her, her family and her friends. It is an attempt to make some kind of sense of it all and to come to terms with the past and the people involved in it. Many of the patients discussed cannot speak for themselves It is an attempt to make some kind of sense of it all and to come to terms with the past and the people involved in it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Doesn't sound like BPD to me
I found this book a very difficult read with all the typos.Horrendous editing abounds throughout as well as boring emphasis and details on irrelevent characters in her life.I question if the diagnosis of BPD is accurate for the author.Much of her problems seem to relate to her abuse of drugs, overmedication with neuroleptics, etc.Perhaps she suffered severe depression and her attempts at self medication via drug abuse and eating disorders sent her "over the edge," resulting in her entry into extraordinarily incompentent psychiatric treatment.No doubt that "treatment" was further devastating to her psyche, setting her recovery back years.She received little or no therapy that granted her any insight into her illness, was merely medicated heavily and innapropriately without regard to a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.This book at least shows the grave pitfalls of dropping a loved one off in a psych ward, blindly trusting the experts to weave magic.Some one should have demanded a diagnosis, medication review, and comprehensive treatment plan for Jane.I wish the woman the best and encourage her to learn what she can from the tragic experiences and do what she can to get on with life sans a focus on these trials and abuses.Good luck, Ms. Wanklin!

A message for Randy
Randy,

I read your defensive message that accuses the author of wallowing in self-pity and refusing to take personal responsibility for her illness. I'm not sure if your aware, that BPD is a biological condition that is complicated by environmental/social factors. Much of the psychiatric community is not aware of this fact and tends to blame people with BPD for their condition and in some cases deny patients treatment purely because they have a mental illness that they deem to be "untreatable".

TARA, the international advocacy association for BPD, states on its website that "patients with BPD are currently the most stigmatized in the mental health system."According to Dr. Joel Dvoskin former Comm. of the New York State Office Of Mental Health, "Why would psychiatry and psychology turn so viciously against people they call mentally disordered? Apparently the greatest sin a client can commit is poor response to treatment. What is apparently so wrong about these unfortunate souls is that they have yet to demonstrate the ability to get better in response to our treatment. Thus, they don't make us feel very good. With a few notable exceptions, we have simply given up on helping people who desperately need us to do a better job of helping them"(CAMI Journal on BPD, Vol 8)

You seem to think that the author had no right to expose the reality of what she and many other patients in the mental health system/psychiatric hospitals have experienced both in Canada, the United States and many other countries around the world. You do not seem to have considered the possibility that a lack of understanding/training in field of BPD has led to many false perceptions about BPD and negative stigma. As such, patients diagnosed with BPD are black listed, and blamed and shamed for their behavior both in out patient treatment and in-patient facilities - if they can get treatment at all.

Keeping in mind, that BPD and learning disabilities (perhaps this might account for her spelling mistakes as cited by the another Reviewer: below) are often co morbid conditions, it is not unusual for a person with these disorders to hear insensitive remarks like "Just Try harder" or "You can do anything if you just set your mind to it". Perhaps this doesn't sound all that terrible to you but imagine if these invalidating statements were being repeated over and over again throughout your life.Randy, imagine someone saying these exact words throughout your childhood and all the way into your adulthood. Imagine trying to "try harder" but not being able to make the "er" part of"Try hard..." come into effect despite putting way more effort into your studies, social and emotional development than your peers. "Try harder","You can do it if you just put your mind to it".... Do you hear it now Randy? Imagine your teachers telling you this, your parents, your guidance counselors and finally once you have reached rock bottom and develop a serious mental illness, imagine the very mental health professionals who are supposed to know about the biological underpinning of BPD, telling you these exact same words. These are the people the author was supposed to be able to turn to for support, compassion and treatment. How would you feel? Might you not have a BPD moment yourself, Randy?.
One more thing Randy:

You come to the clinical conclusion (that you may or may not be qualified to make) that the author was engaging in "splitting" behavior "classifying select people as her saviors, whilst the remainder are discounted as thugs - emotionally abusive, physically abusive, sexually abusive." Have you considered that the author might, as we all tend to do (in a book especially),simply be trying to recognize the people in her life who helped her cope with her illness and weed out the ones that have hurt her. Obviously, there have been some supportive and some not so supportive people in her life. I find it disturbing how readily you seem to be able to use a characteristic of a mental illness for the purpose of ridicule.

Aunmitigated diatribe of self-pity & blaming of others
I found this book to hold no hope for the sufferers of BDP. Instead of focusing and drawing attention to the things that would help you overcome this difficult disorder, the author has decided to direct a large amount of venom at her hospitalization and treatments. For someone who vilified the psychiatric community, she has certainly had more than her share of slices of this particular pie. There seems to be little recognition or appreciation of the amount of money, time and effort spent with her.
The author seems to expect other people and professions to supply her with a blueprint for life, without taking into effect her own culpability and responsibilties in this life. As typical to the BPD behavior, she chooses to classify select people as her saviours, whilst the remainder are discounted as thugs - emotionally abusive, physically abusive, sexually abusive.
It comes as no surprise to me that positive reviews are from other BPDs as birds of a feather do flock together.
The only problem being that these birds are vultures, picking the flesh of the only system that will support them.

excellent book, poor editing job
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to anyone, regardless of their BPD diagnoses.

I would give this book five stars, if it weren't for its embarassingly high amount of typos.

Now, I'm not one to 'nitpick,' but at one point I found this so irritating that I actually had to put the book down for a minute.

For instance, in one chapter, she discusses someone named "Wayne."Then, out of nowhere, she starts calling this same person "Joe."I'm sitting here thinking, 'who the heck is Joe?'(Mind you, I am a very careful reader!)In the next chapter, she talks about a college friend named "Adam," but a sentance later, refers to him as "Allan."

There are *numerous* other mistakes of this sort that I won't bother listing.Either the author just didn't proof-read her book (*at all*!), or the editor just did a deplorable job.

I hate to harp on a book for something as trival as grammar.However, it's one thing to come across an error every now and then, and it's quite another to be bombarded with them to the point where the story starts to become *completely* ofuscated(!)

I really hope the author is aware of this.

Good autobiography about struggles w/ BPD
The book goes indepth about the trials and tribulations of the author w/ BPD. Although the book doesn't describe what BPD is, I know what it is because I have it myself and wasn't confused while reading the whole book. She described a lot of people she met in the psychiatric hospital, and I grew tired about 3/4's of the book reading about the characteristics of them. She went through a lot of the same things that I went through, so I can relate to her. There were a lot of typos, but considering everything else (she wrote while being on psychotropic medications, etc), I thought she did a very thorough job, detailing every aspect of her life. It's hard not to feel sympathy for a women who's been through hell and back. ... Read more

Product Description
University of Toronto, Canada. Report of the results of a six-year treatment comparison trial between interpersonal group psychotherapy (IGP) for borderline personality disorder and individual treatment as usual. For psychotherapists and psychiatrists. ... Read more

Product Description
Explains for the layman - with or without the BPD - what it's like to live with the borderline personality disorder, and how to recover.Includes explanations of biology, medications, therapy, and other diagnoses.An extensive bibliography and glossary are included. Life at the Border was placed on the recommended reading list by the National Institute of Mental Health and is a reference book at NIMH. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Changed my lofe
This book and Dr. Heller helped save my marriage.
I was lucky enough to live reasonably close to Dr. Heller's office to have him treat my wife. I highly recommend this book!!!!

Helpful and Hopeful
Offering help to borderline personalities and their loved ones long before other popular self help writers, Dr. Heller's book suffers from miserable printing and formatting.It's a shame, because Life at the Border is jam packed with straightforward and valuable overview information.Family Physician and "positive thinker" Dr. Heller places an interesting, optimistic emphasis on the biological causes and cures of BPD (especially limbic brain disorders) (while not neglecting the full spectrum of causes and treatments, including supportive alternative treatments).He mentions in passing that he will be writing a book on coping with borderline personalities and for those who need to deal with the trauma of having lived with a borderline; his unique contribution in that area is long overdue.He writes in conclusion to the borderline personality:"Find a therapist and get the help you need.Then read as many positive, mentally healthy books as you can and as often as you can -- it will make a difference.Listen to motivational tapes every day, and retrain your brain with positive, healthy affirmations.Make peace with God and your spirituality.If possible, make peace with your loved ones.Most of all, make peace with the most important person in the world -- the one in the mirror.He/she needs and deserves to be forgiven."Dated and badly in need of a completely revised version, but still very valuable.

LELAND!!.. The ANTIDOTE for the Misunderstanding of BPD.
When I was first diagnosed with Dyslimbia, (the appropriate and correct term for BPD) I took on the perception that it meant I could never be treated effectively. I would never be emotionally well, and that my condition was one that no one looked forward to treating a patient for. Dr. Heller's book was quick to dispel that myth in my mind.

He dissected the condition and explained it piece by piece so that anyone in the world could understand it without the defeatist's attitude that often seems to be prevalent in the communtiy of psychiatry in general (where Dyslimbia is concerned). He explains what it is, the origins of it, the modus operandi, the symptoms, the effect of those symptoms upon our lives, the possibility of being cured, and tools with which to progress towards and reach the place of being cured.

I felt very relieved and excited to learn of someone who had actually been cured of this condition. He give's the readers (who suffer from Dyslimbia (BPD)) a sense of pride as he explains that people who suffer from Dyslimbia are not Dyslimbics or BPDers. They are people who suffer from a medical condition called Dyslimbia which menifests itself via emotional/ mental symptoms that negatively effect their lives.

His book shows us that we shouldn't see ourselves as a terrible ailment or condition. We are People With a medical condition. We don't refer to people with cancer by saying, "Hey there End Stage Carcinoma, how's it going?"Nor should we say, "Hi, my name is Indigo and I'm a BPDer.What's your name?.....My name is Polyp. Nice to meet you BPDer."

His contrast of the self and the condition, adds perspective to the task at hand, which is to maintain a positive outlook concerning recovery, to take responsibility for our recovery, to focus on and use the tools given to progress to recovery, and to have a clear understanding of the nature and occurrance of our own behavior as it relates to Dyslimbia.

Indigo...
Future, Brilliant, Female Surgeon 2B

I couldn't put this book down...
As a sufferer of BPD, my attention span is not great. But
I literally couldn't put this book down...it just fed my
soul.Finally someone who "gets" it.Although medication
is outdated (newer drugs have less side effects and more
benefits), advice and support is up to date.It has given
me the knowledge that recovery is possible...something I
didn't believe before.

OUTDATED - But still not bad at all
I liked this book, Dr. Heller seems to have a lot of experience in the treatment of BPD. The book is easy to read and follow, and I found it pretty interesting. HOWEVER, the book is really nt up-to-date with the recent medical and psychological research. It is claimed that the book has been updated in 1999. I dno't believe it. Nothing to say about DBT, newer SSRIs and atypical antipsychotics.

If you just want to understand the disorder, get this book. If you are looking for treatment, this book is way out of date, ... Read more

Product Description
Text for mental health professionals in private practice, outpatient clinics, or inpatient facilities presenting a model of cost efficient borderline personality disorder therapy. DNLM: Borderline Personality Disorder - therapy. ... Read more

Product Description
Biological and Neurobehavioral Studies of Borderline Personality Disorder is the first book to examine exclusively the biological and neurobehavioral aspects of borderline personality disorder. It provides an overview of current research trends in this area and reviews a wide range of studies employing such sophisticated techniques as pharmacological probes, structural and functional brain imaging, and neuropsychological tests.Separate chapters explore the biological underpinnings of dimensions of psychopathology frequently found among borderline patients: impulsivity, aggression, affective lability, depression, panic and/or anxiety states, neurological dysfunction, self-injurious behavior, substance abuse, and transient dissociative phenomena. Also examined are the relationships of borderline personality disorder to Axis-20I affective, schizophrenic, and impulsive spectrum disorders; anxiety and panic disorders; early abuse, limbic system dysfunction, and posttraumatic stress disorder; attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and some types of traumatic brain injury; other disorders characterized by behavioral or cognitive dyscontrol (e.g., eating disorders, obsessional disorders); and substance abuse disorders.The final chapters examine the implications of these studies for clinicians' evaluation, care, and pharmacotherapeutic treatment of their borderline patients and reflect on the future course of biological and neurobehavioral research in borderline personality disorder. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

borderline personality disorder guide for therapists
I had read this book over 5 years ago when I worked in mental health.At that time the service was having difficulty dealing with people who have a Borderline Personality Disorder and held the misguided belief that only long term intensive treatment would help these people.
This book showed otherwise - it has a good explanation of the causes and symtoms of BPD and it also has some very good practical suggestions on how to manage some of the chaotic behaviours as a therapist.I have used some of the activities and they have worked very well, particularly the 60 seconds reality check.
I think it is an easy read, easy to understand, informative book for anyone who is working with the challenging behaviours of a person with BPD.Shorter Term Treatments for Borderline Personality Disorders (Best Practices for Therapy)

Excellent, informative and realistic book
I am the webowner of the site "Borderline Personality Disorder Today." This is a book written primarily for clinicians but I alsofeel BPDs can learn from it. Initially, he presents a very importantproblem in treating BPDs. One that I have always felt. When discussing longterm therapy, he states "..I suspect that only a tiny percent ofborderline patients can afford such treatment." Also discussed are thelimitations that some HMOs have that prevent treating the BPD. He alsostates "Borderline patients are often so dysfunctional that they donot have the ability to earn a good income and/or they experiencesignificant occupational instability...The bottom line is this: Thesepeople who suffer so much cannot afford long term treatment..." Hediscusses BPD symptomology, therapeutic strategies and even discusses howthe limbic system in the brain is damaged and how medication can help. Irecommend this book to clinicians, borderlines and families.

Realistic Treatment Strategies
Most books addressing the treatment of borderline personality disorder recommend intensive treatment. Let's get real. People with this type of disorder suffer tremendously and lead chaotic lives. One manifestation ofthe chaos is unstable employment and marginal incomes. For 99% ofborderline people, long term, intensive treatment is financiallyunrealistic. This book discusses practical approaches primarily drawn fromcognitive behavioral therapy and psychopharmacology that are reasonablealternatives in treating this very difficult group of clients. The author'suse of the concept "shorter term" refers to weekly psychotherapylasting from 3-12 months. This book is well written, clear, and practical. ... Read more

Product Description
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) lags far behind other disorders such as schizophrenia in terms of research and treatment interventions. Ongoing debates about diagnosis, etiology, neurobiology, genetics, mediation, and treatment still persist. Borderline Personality Disorder: Meeting the Challenges to Successful Treatment brings together over two dozen of the field's leading experts in one enlightening text that offers providers a view of BPD from the sufferers themselves as a way to understand the experiences of family members who are often devastated by their relatives' struggles with this common disorder. This useful text also features handy worksheets and numerous tables to clearly illustrate pertinent information. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Deeply Appreciate Dr. Hoffman's Work
I am deeply grateful for Dr. Hoffman's work in bringing together the top experts and research and for her tireless efforts in educating clinicians, family members and consumers about Borderline Personality Disorder.

Tami Green
www.borderlinepersonalitysupport.com

Self Help for Managing the Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder

BPDTreatment Guide Excellent for Social Workers
As a family member with a loved one diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and an active advocate for appropriate treatment for BPD, I highly recommend this book to all professionals interested in the disorder.My family has experienced exceptional service by those in the field of social work and this book is tailor-made as a guide for those therapists who want to expand their knowledge of effective treatment for BPD. ... Read more

Product Description
Borderline Personality Disorder patients are impulsive, unstable and destructive, hurting themselves and those around them, including those who seek to help them. This has resulted in a widespread reluctance to treat them and a pessimism about treatment. In the experience of the authors this pessimism is unjustified, because for many patients a relatively brief intervention can be effective in cost-benefit terms as well as human terms. The interventions illustrated here have been used to treat outpatients for 15 years. The results indicate that treatments can achieve clinically significant changes in the course of 16–24 sessions, in a substantial proportion of patients. While CAT shares some ideas and methods with other approaches, it introduces many new features and is uniquely integrated at both the theoretical and practical level. The early joint reformulation of patients problems serves to contain destructiveness and to create a working alliance. Also, the use of reformulation to teach self-reflection and avoid collusive responses from the therapist, throughout the therapy, represents a powerful new technique. The book offers a critical appraisal of current ideas and practices, contrasting with these the ways in which CAT mobilizes the patients own resources. The authors argue that CAT should have a place in any service seeking to help these difficult patients. From a review of Cognitive Analytic Therapy: Developments in Theory and Practice (Anthony Ryle (Editor), 1995): "Ryle is surely the most original, productive and interesting writer in psychotherapy in Britain today, and CAT is a remarkable systematizing achievement which deserves to be better known on the other side of the Atlantic … This book documenting CATs recent theoretical and practical developments is a must for anyone interested in CAT itself and in integrative approaches, for those interested in brief, psychodynamically informed therapy, or indeed for those interested in developments in psychology generally." Robert Rentoul, British Journal of Medical Psychology ... Read more

Product Description
McGill University, Quebec, Canada. Reference for psychiatrists on the etiology, outcome, and treatment of borderline personality disorder. Reviews current research and presents treatment options incorporating the author's view of a multi-part etiology. ... Read more

Product Description
Topeka Institute for Psychoanalysis, KS. Reference providing a detailed look into the case studies of three borderline patients, their therapeutic progress, and the effects of specific therapeutic techniques. Includes a review of the fundamental literature. ... Read more

Product Description
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This instability often disrupts family and work life, long-term planning, and the individual's sense of self-identity. Originally thought to be at the 'borderline' of psychosis, people with BPD suffer from a disorder of emotion regulation. While less well known than schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), BPD is more common, affecting 2 percent of adults, mostly young women. This new book presents the latest new research in the field. ... Read more

Product Description
Health Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Provides an accessible and practical summary of treatment options for clinical management and treatment for borderline personality disorder. Discusses history of treatment, epidemiology, etiology, current research, and more. Also addresses the legal issues involved. For psychiatrists. Softcover. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Clarity for a Complicated Subject
Krawitz and Watson provide us with a concise volume about one of psychiatry's more troubling disorders. After reading the text, I was left wanting more as their writing is clear, thoughtful, and insightful. They present the disorder in a manner that makes this text accessible to many members of the healthcare team, rather than to physicians alone as some texts do. Nurses and therapists will readily appreciate the way the information is presented and will take away much from the text. I wish this book had been available when I was a nursing student. It would have saved me the "trial by fire" experience I had when I worked with my first patient with borderline personality disorder.

... Read more

Product Description
In March 2001, the National Institutes of Health issued the following warning: "The number of Web sites offering health-related resources grows every day. Many sites provide valuable information, while others may have information that is unreliable or misleading."Furthermore, because of the rapid increase in Internet-based information, many hours can be wasted searching, selecting, and printing.This book was created for medical professionals, students, and members of the general public who want to conduct medical research using the most advanced tools available and spending the least amount of time doing so. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Book is a big disappointment.
This book is mostly a list of articles and stuff the author found on the Internet. Since this book was published in 2003, it does not contain the most recent and up-to-date information.You are probably better off doing a search on a scholarly database to find the most recent information. ... Read more

Product Description
Aims to illustrate the methodological approaches that have been employed to address etiologic hypotheses related to borderline personality disorder. The book details recent research in this area and outlines how these studies can provide a foundation for future research. ... Read more

Product Description
There are many approaches to the treatment of patients with borderline personality disorder. In this volume, the editors interview the major proponents of these approaches. The book contains fourteen interviews with a diverse range of therapists. The questions are the same, but the answers are as different as the personalities of the respondents. They discuss the major principles of their treatment, their professional development, and their differences. The interviews also reveal the people behind the theories. What personal motives made them want to work with patients so often considered _difficult_? Why did they choose or develop the specific methods that they use? ... Read more