Treatment of Severe Personality Disorders: Resolution of Aggression and Recovery of Eroticism

Renowned psychoanalyst and psychiatrist Otto F. Kernberg presents a comprehensive update on the current understanding of personality disorders, their neurobiological and psychodynamic determinants, and a specific psychodynamic psychotherapy designed to address the psychopathology of these conditions.

The Complexity of Personality Disorders

Kernberg draws on the empirical research and clinical investigation of severe personality disorders conducted at the Personality Disorders Institute of the Weill Cornell Medical College Department of Psychiatry. He examines the classification of personality disorders, the evolution of DSM-III and DSM-IV, and the impact of new knowledge on the classification of DSM-5, highlighting the conflicts between scientific and political considerations that have hindered the classification of personality disorders in the past.

Neurobiological and Psychodynamic Determinants

The author delves into the intricate relationship between neurobiological structures, neurotransmitters, and the psychodynamic organization of psychic experience. He explores the latest developments and controversies in psychodynamic psychotherapies, including the role of interpretation in borderline pathology and the formulation of supportive psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Addressing Severe Narcissistic Pathology

Kernberg provides an in-depth overview of treatment options for severe narcissistic personality disorder, exploring the distortions in verbal communication that may arise during psychotherapy with these patients and the differential diagnosis of antisocial behavior.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Sexual Pathology

The book also examines the diagnosis and treatment of sexual pathology, shedding light on the complexities of the love lives of patients with severe personality disorders.

The Education of Psychodynamic Psychotherapists

In the concluding chapter, Kernberg emphasizes the essential preconditions for the education of psychodynamic psychotherapists, highlighting the challenging and complex psychotherapeutic work required in this field.

By presenting a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of severe personality disorders, their neurobiological and psychodynamic determinants, and effective treatment approaches, Treatment of Severe Personality Disorders: Resolution of Aggression and Recovery of Eroticism is an invaluable resource for psychoanalysts, psychiatrists, and mental health professionals seeking to improve their knowledge and skills in this complex and challenging field.

Publisher: American Psychiatric Association Publishing

Publication Date: April 5, 2018

Language: English

ISBN: 9781615371433, 9781615371884