Borderline Personality Disorder

by Roy Krawitz, Wendy Jackson

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a psychiatric condition that affects nearly 2% of the general population, predominantly women. Symptoms of BPD include impulsivity, mood swings, unstable intense relationships and feelings of chronic emptiness. Research on BPD has lagged behind that on other mental health conditions, such as depression and psychosis, primarily due to the lack of evidence of effective treatment but also due to the stigma historically associated with the condition. Fortunately this situation is changing, with improved treatments now available and improved clinician/organizational willingness to engage with those with a diagnosis of BPD.

This book provides people with BPD and their families and friends with an authoritative, user-friendly and easily-readable resource that is both informative about the condition and provides practical help in assisting improved outcomes. The authors draw from the latest research and decades of clinical experience to provide a compassionate understanding of BPD and treatments for the condition. Numerous case histories and patient perspectives have been included to help illustrate key points and bring the book alive for the reader. The book is balanced, integrated and respectful of patients, family and friends, and clinicians. In an area often associated with pessimism and negativity, this book provides patients and families with realistic hope.

Genres: Psychiatry

253 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2008

Reviews

[Nesreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. Very helpful, precise, straight to the point and most importantly beginner friendly. It helped me through a whole concept that I am TOTALLY new to very smoothly.

[Kelley Stoneking · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book is written for the person with BPD, as the child of that someone, I found it very helpful. Several new ideas were presented. I would recommend this book to anyone in association with BPD.

[Seamus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay book. Best part: the conversational style of writing that really makes you feel as though the authors are talking to you as a person. Probably worth reading just for that empathetic style. Worst part: the book wasn't really as specifically geared towards Borderline as the title leads one to believe. What I mean is that there are entire sections where if you took out BPD and put in the name of some other disorder, it would still make sense. More of a general how-to-be-mentally-happy-and-overcome-serious-mental-problems kind of book.

[Simon Purdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informative book to a degree, though perhaps I wasn't its target audience. This book is obviously written for an individual who suffers with borderline personality disorder, and from my understanding of the diagnostic criteria - I don't. But the criteria are obtuse, vague, ambiguous and barely comprehensible. But I think for a person who does suffer, this book will have some value.