Breakthrough Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) affects a staggering 11% to 22% of adolescents seeking mental health care in outpatient clinics, and a whopping 33% to 49% of those in inpatient units. Despite its high prevalence, BPD remains underdiagnosed, and mental health professionals often lack the necessary training to provide adequate care. This knowledge gap has significant social and economic consequences.

The Handbook of Good Psychiatric Management for Adolescents With Borderline Personality Disorder bridges this gap by providing essential guidelines for clinicians. Adapted from Dr. John Gunderson’s Good Psychiatric Management (GPM) for adults with BPD, this manual offers a resource-efficient treatment approach tailored to adolescents (GPM-A).

Demystifying BPD in Young People

The handbook tackles common obstacles that arise during each phase of treatment, including patient rejection of diagnosis, conflicts among clinicians, nonadherence to medications, and concerns about stigma. Case vignettes feature key decision points, proposing alternative interventions and demonstrating how to apply the book’s concepts in various settings.

To facilitate effective communication with adolescent patients, speech bubbles throughout the handbook offer suggestions on how to phrase explanations and interventions at an appropriate level.

A Pragmatic Approach to Treatment

The GPM-A principles outlined in this book are grounded in real-world experience and supported by scientific evidence. While not an endpoint for treatment, they provide a roadmap for delivering “good enough” care, even in the absence of specialized treatments. Clinicians are encouraged to adapt these lessons to their practice as needed.

The education provided in the handbook is designed to be shared with patients, their families, schools, clinical teams, and trainees, serving as a valuable resource for motivation and perseverance in treatment.

Book Details:

• Publisher: American Psychiatric Association Publishing
• Publication Date: June 8, 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9781615373932, 9781615373949