Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents: A Complete Guide to Understanding and Coping When Your Adolescent Has BPD

by Blaise A. Aguirre

"Families and their children with BPD will find this book a very useful guide as they struggle together toward a more fully realized life."—Mary C. Zanarini, Ed.D., Director, Laboratory for the Study of Adult Development, McLean Hospital and Professor of Psychology, Harvard Medical School "A must-have book for every parent with a borderline child."—Randi Kreger, Coauthor of Stop Walking on Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care about Has Borderline Personality Disorder " Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents is a long overdue book that eloquently and expertly addresses the wide-ranging issues surrounding borderline personality disorder in adolescents. This compassionate book is a must for parents with children suffering from borderline personality disorder, as well as clinicians, educators, pediatricians, and clergy trying to understand and help adolescents with this serious, chronic disorder."—Perry D. Hoffman, Ph.D., President, National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents offers parents, caregivers, and adolescents themselves a complete understanding of this complex and tough-to-treat disorder. This comprehensive guide thoroughly explains what BPD is and what a patient's treatment options are, including the revolutionary new treatment called dialectic behavior therapy. Author Blaise A. Aguirre, M.D., one of the foremost experts in the field, describes recent advances in treatments and brings into focus what we do and don't know about this condition. Readers will learn the differences between BPD and other adolescent psychiatric diagnoses; treatment options (e.g., medication and therapy); how to choose the right therapist; how to determine when inpatient treatment is necessary; how to enforce boundaries; how to take care of and protect yourself; and practical techniques for effective communication with those who have BPD.

Genres: Mental Health, Nonfiction, Psychology, Mental Illness, Health

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

I am a child and adolescent psychiatrists and practice dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and psychopharmacology. I am the medical director of 3East at Harvard - affiliated McLean Hospital, a residential DBT program for young women exhibiting behaviors and borderline personality traits. I have been on staff at McLean since 2000.

My books include 1) Mindfulness for Borderline Personality Disorder: Relieve Your Suffering Using the Core Skill of Dialectical Behavior Therapy; 2) Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents: A Complete Guide to Understanding and Coping When Your Adolescent Has BPD 3) Depression (Biographies of Disease)And co-author of 4) Helping Your Troubled Teen: Learn to Recognize, Understand, and Address the Destructive Behavior of Today's Teens and 5) Parenting Your Child with Autism: Practical Solutions, Strategies, and Advice for Helping Your Family

Reviews

[Jen Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Message is clear and direct without shaming, unrealistic expectations, or blame.

[Amy Cowdrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource, especially since it opens the possibility of personality disorders in adolescents. Since personality disorders typically aren’t diagnosed until 18, they are often ruled out but this acknowledges that there are clear signs earlier than 18.

[Michelle Only Wants to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it took me months to finish the book (mostly due to studying for my clinical test), I must say this book is an excellent resource for anyone wishing to understand what BPD is, and how it affects adolescents and their families. The language is clear, the information is on point. It is presented in an organized manner, exploring each area in short, comprehensive chapters. It is Clinical enough for one to realize it has a research-based foundation, yet simple enough for anyone to understand.

The book is meant for parents who are confused and at loss after years of frustration and despair attempting to get answers for their children's behaviors and suffering. I am confident in recommending this book to those parents, but also to the clinicians out there working with youth, who may need further understanding on working with this population and helping those individuals and their families to find the answers, resources, and the proper treatment they deserve.

Even though most of us clinicians were taught to avoid diagnosing a personality disorder under the age of 18, I found comfort and validation in this book. Borderline is a common diagnosis within the high-school youth, and the DSM-5 does not require the age limit for meeting the criteria. The sooner we can get the right coping skills, the higher the chances are for these adolescents to learn to self-regulate and move forward in life. BPD is a youth disorder, and it's treatable.

If you are a clinician wishing to learn more about helping youth with BPD, there's a universe of knowledge in this short book. If you are a parent in search for answers about your adolescent's struggles with BPD, this book will be of invaluable help.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible reference that has become fundamental to helping my family rebuild our life.

[Malinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I approached this book as a teacher seeking a better understanding of my students who have a BPD diagnoses. It was very clear, thorough, and helpful.

[Sarah Unmasked · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is a must read for anyone wanting to learn about or is affected in anyway by BPD.

Aguirre proved exceptionally effective with communicating how an individual with BPD feels, thinks and perceives the world around them. This education provides a depth of understanding to empathise with those who have BPD.

Sometimes referring to his own treatment centre seemed like a bit of an advertising scheme and I was a bit surprised at the poor editing considering it is a second edition. Other than that, this is the best book on BPD I've read thus far and plan on reading it again.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to learn more about BPD after someone in my life has come to me with their personal struggles with the disorder. This was a helpful read in my opinion, and changed my perspective. There were preconceptions I had that, since reflecting, I hope I’ve been able to dispel. I think this can be very helpful for cultivating empathy for challenging behavior common among individuals with BPD. I found Aguirre’s writing to be thorough, and was interested to learn more about McLean Hospital.

[Naiomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written in layman’s terms and totally understandable especially if you have every dealt with a child with such intense emotions and behaviors that are impulsive and dangerous. As a parent it helped me understand the depth of my child’s suffering so that I stay in the moment, validate and use skills to surf!!!
Totally amazing!!!!!

[Tracey Myers]

There is hope for people with borderline personality disorder. This book was very good and extremely helpdful in dealing with my daughter, who has BPD. Nice to know I don't have to just get rid of her!

[Ronny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very accessible and non-judgemental language.

Makes a really interesting case for the diagnosis of BPD in adolescence if clinically appropriate, and suggests that the stigma against people with BPD is perpetuated through the mental health systems refusal to diagnose.

[ASA · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides some helpful coping skills in dealing with teens with BPD. It explains the differences in symptoms (or how those symptoms are expressed) in adults and teens with BPD.

[FrozenbySloth]

I don't know anybody with BPD, adolescent or otherwise, but I found this an enlightening read and can readily say I understand this disorder better now.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suppose this might have been more interesting if I had a kid with BPD, but I also think it’s best for parents whose kids are just getting a psychiatric diagnosis for the first time. Way too many examples and long, long quotes. A good overview with diagnostic strategies, reviews of treatment options, and a much weightier and more concrete parental guidance section would have been useful. Preventative strategies would also have been good. Author did a great job describing and explaining the disease. So - ok, but not for me

[Maddie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Teenagers don’t “have” “BPD”. Ridiculous book.