Moderating Severe Personality Disorders

In Treatment of Severe Personality Disorders: Resolution of Aggression and Recovery of Eroticism, the influential psychoanalyst and psychiatrist Otto Kernberg presents an integrated update of the current knowledge of personality disorders, their neurobiological and psychodynamic determinants, and a specific psychodynamic psychotherapy geared to resolve the psychopathology of these conditions – namely, the syndrome of identity diffusion and its influence on the capacity for emotional wellbeing and gratifying relationships with significant others. The author updates the findings of the Personality Disorders Institute of the Weill Cornell Medical College Department of Psychiatry, which are derived from the empirical research and clinical investigation of severe personality disorders, and addresses the effectiveness of transference-focused psychotherapy, a specific psychodynamic treatment for these disorders developed at the Institute. The volume focuses particularly on an essential group of techniques common to all psychoanalytically derived treatments and clarifies the corresponding differential features of various psychodynamic treatment approaches.In prose both precise and evocative, the author: Examines the classification of personality disorders, the way competing viewpoints have influenced the evolution of DSM-III and DSM-IV, and the impact of new knowledge on the classification of DSM-5, with emphasis on how conflicts between scientific and political considerations have hindered the classification of personality disorders in the past. Illustrates in detail how present knowledge of neurobiological structures and neurotransmitters intertwines with the psychodynamic determinants of how psychic experience is organized. Explores psychodynamic psychotherapies and contemporary developments and controversies in the field. For example, the role of interpretation in borderline pathology is examined using a clinical case, and a new formulation of supportive psychodynamic psychotherapy is described. Addresses severe narcissistic pathology – its diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Specifically, the book presents an overview of treatment options for severe narcissistic personality disorder, explores the distortions in verbal communication that may arise during psychotherapy with these patients, and focuses on the differential diagnosis of antisocial behavior. Examines the diagnosis and treatment of sexual pathology, and explores the vicissitudes of the love lives of patients with severe personality disorders. Concludes with a chapter on the essential preconditions in the education of psychodynamic psychotherapists to carry out the challenging and complex psychotherapeutic work in this field. In describing both the limits and the advances in therapeutic effectiveness, the Treatment of Severe Personality Disorders: Resolution of Aggression and Recovery of Eroticism performs a great service, and it will surely become a classic of the psychoanalytic literature.

This 8th volume of the WPA series in Evidence and Experience in Psychiatry provides an update of research evidence and clinical experience concerning personality disorders. A general term for a group of behavioural disorders, personality disorders are usually characterised by lifelong, ingrained, maladaptive patterns of deviant behaviour, lifestyle and social adjustment that are different in quality from psychotic and neurotic symptoms. The book reviews recent progress and current controversies in this area, providing a guide to clinicians and a contribution to the ongoing revision of the two main diagnostic systems, the DSM-IV and ICD-10. Written by Mario Maj, an internationally renowned psychiatrist and secretary for publications of the World Psychiatric Association, this work includes coverage of neuroscientific and psychiatric aspects and is an unbiased and reliable reference point.

This comprehensive reference, edited by one of the leading experts in the field, assimilates the newest and most effective treatment techniques for the personality disorders. Each chapter is written by leading scholars in the Cognitive-Behavior, Humanistic and Integrative theoretical models. In addition to a detailed case example in each chapter, additional case studies are integrated and used throughout.

A revolutionary, personalized psychotherapy approach for the treatment of Axis II personality disorders, by renowned expert Dr. Theodore Millon Acknowledging the primacy of the whole person, Overcoming Resistant Personality Disorders: A Personalized Psychotherapy Approach takes into account all of the complexities of human nature–family influences, culture, neurobiological processes, unconscious memories, and so on–illustrating that no part of human nature should lie outside the scope of a clinician's regard. Part of a three-book series, this book provides you with a unique combination of conceptual background and step-by-step practical advice to guide your treatment of Axis II personality disorders. Detailed case studies are provided throughout the text to illustrate the strategies of personalized psychotherapy for: * The Needy/Dependent Prototype * The Sociable/Histrionic Prototype * The Confident/Narcissistic Prototype * The Nonconforming/Antisocial Prototype * The Assertive/Sadistic Prototype * The Conscientious/Compulsive Prototype * The Skeptical/Negativistic Prototype Destined to become an essential reference for trainees and professionals, this book makes a revolutionary call to return therapy to the natural reality of each patient's life, seamlessly guiding you in understanding the personality and treatment of the whole, unique, yet complex person.

Treating personality disorders can be extremely frustrating for clinicians. As a result, many doctors get caught in a cycle of diagnosing and rediagnosing in an attempt to find an approach that works. In Personality Disorders Over Time: Precursors, Course, and Outcome, Joel Paris, M.D., proposes a better approach-one based on management rather than cure-that he developed while following a group of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) for over 25 years.Paris believes that the key to effective treatment of personality disorders lies in understanding their progression over a lifetime. In Personality Disorders Over Time, he outlines a sound framework for treatment that features A realistic long-term treatment approach that strives for gradual recovery with intermittent interventions An examination of the progression of these disorders over time, including childhood precursors, course and outcome, and treatment A general theory of personality disorders, including Axis I and Axis II cluster disorders Suggestions for a broader, more accurate DSM classification reflecting the personality trait dimensions that underlie disorders Written in the first person, studded with clinical anecdotes, and filled with up-to-date literature references, Personality Disorders Over Time provides fascinating insights into these complicated disorders. It is an excellent resource for any clinician who wants to understand and provide more effective treatment to patients with personality disorders.

The older adult population is booming in the United State and across the globe. With this boom comes an increase in the number of older adults who experience psychological disorders. Current estimates suggest that about 20% of older persons are diagnosable with a mental disorder: Personality disorders are among the most poorly understood, challenging, and frustrating of these disorders among older adults. This book is designed to provide scholarly and scientifically-based guidance about the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of personality disorders to health professionals, mental health professionals, and senior service professionals who encounter personality-disordered or «difficult» older adults.

A revision of the leading textbook on personality disorders by renowned expert Theodore Millon «Personalities are like impressionistic paintings. At a distance, each person is 'all of a piece'; up close, each is a bewildering complexity of moods, cognitions, and motives.» -Theodore Millon Exploring the continuum from normal personality traits to the diagnosis and treatment of severe cases of personality disorders, Personality Disorders in Modern Life, Second Edition is unique in its coverage of both important historical figures and contemporary theorists in the field. Its content spans all the major disorders-Antisocial, Avoidant, Depressive, Compulsive, Histrionic, Narcissistic, Paranoid, Schizoid, and Borderline-as well as their many subtypes. Attention to detail and in-depth discussion of the subtleties involved in these debilitating personality disorders make this book an ideal companion to the DSM-IV(TM). Fully updated with the latest research and theory, this important text features: Discussion of the distinctive clinical features and developmental roots of personality disorders Balanced coverage of the major theoretical perspectives-biological, psychodynamic, interpersonal, cognitive, and evolutionary Individual chapters on all DSM-IV(TM) personality disorders and their several subtypes and mixtures Case studies throughout the text that bring to life the many faces of these disorders Including a new assessment section that singles out behavioral indicators considered to have positive predictive power for the disorders, this Second Edition also includes a special focus on developmental, gender, and cultural issues specific to each disorder. A comprehensive reference suitable for today's practitioners, Personality Disorders in Modern Life, Second Edition features a clear style that also makes it a valuable resource for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. The most thorough book of its kind, this Second Edition is a powerful, practical resource for all trainees and professionals in key mental health fields, such as psychology, social work, and nursing.

DSM-IV and ICD-10 both diagnose personality disorders categorically, yet studies indicate that many patients meet criteria for an excessive number of diagnoses, raising the question of whether personality disorders are discrete conditions or rather distinctions along dimensions of general personality functioning. This collection of papers renews long-standing proposals for a dimensional model of personality disorder, describing alternative models, addressing questions about their clinical application and utility, and suggesting that future research seek to integrate such models within a common hierarchical structure.With contributions by preeminent researchers in the field, Dimensional Models of Personality Disorders is drawn from a conference series convened by APA, WHO, and NIH in order to plan for the fifth edition of the DSM. The Nomenclature Work Group concluded that consideration should be given to basing part or all of DSM-V on dimensions rather than categories, and recommended that a dimensional model for personality disorders should serve as a basis for exploring dimensional approaches in other areas. Accordingly, the volume opens with a presentation of 18 proposals for dimensional models and proceeds with provocative contributions on a number of related issues ranging from hard science to clinical practice. Among the topics addressed are Behavioral and molecular genetic research supporting an etiologically informed dimensional classification of personality disorders The as-yet tenuous associations between dimensional trait measures of personality as contained in the models of Cloninger, Depue, and Siever-Davis, and specific neurobiological measures, as examined in neurotransmitter research Potential links between childhood and adolescent temperament and personality dimensions and adult personality psychopathology Studies examining the covariation of personality dimensions across cultures The continuity of Axis I and Axis II disorders and a proposed hierarchical structure of mental disorders that integrates the psychopathology of Axis I disorders with specific personality traits The dual challenges of coverage and cutoffs that must be addressed if dimensional models are to be considered viable alternatives to the existing categorical diagnostic system Although the editors acknowledge that concerns are certain to be raised regarding conversion to a dimensional classification – such as the disruption to clinical practice by a radical shift in diagnosing personality disorder – these papers make a strong case for opening the field to alternative ways of enhancing clinical utility and improving the validity of basic classification concepts. Together, they offer stimulating insight into how we approach personality disorders, with the hope of encouraging a new model of diagnosis for DSM-V.

This new edition of The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Personality Disorders has been thoroughly reorganized and updated to reflect new findings, expanded treatment options and considerations, and future directions, such as translational research, enhancing the text's utility while maintaining its reputation as the foremost reference and clinical guide on the subject. In four exhaustive and enlightening sections, the book covers basic concepts of personality disorders, etiology, clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, and it addresses special issues that may arise with specific populations or settings. In addition, the text offers many features and benefits: Several chapters describe the intense efforts to identify the scientifically strongest – and clinically relevant – approaches to conceptualizing and enumerating personality traits and pathology. The book does not sidestep ongoing controversies over classification but addresses them head-on by including chapters by experts with competing perspectives. The hybrid dimensional/categorical alternative model of classification for personality disorders included in the DSM-5 is included in an appendix and thoroughly referenced throughout the volume and discussed in detail in several chapters. Coverage of current research is up-to-date and extensive. Longitudinal naturalistic studies, which have shown surprising patterns of improvement in patients with selected personality disorders, as well as new and more rigorous treatment studies, have yielded critical findings in recent years, all of which are thoroughly addressed. Dozens of vivid and detailed case examples are included to illustrate diagnostic and treatment concepts. The editors have selected a roster of contributors second to none, and the text has been scrupulously edited for consistency of language, tone, and coverage. As clinical populations become better defined, new and more rigorous treatment studies are being conducted with increasingly promising results. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Personality Disorders offers clinicians, residents, and trainees in all disciplines a front row seat for the latest findings and clinical innovations in this burgeoning field.

Approaching personality disorders with evidence-based treatment plans The Personality Disorders Treatment Planner, 2nd Edition is fully updated to meet the changing needs of the mental healthcare field. A time-saver for psychologists, counselors, social workers, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals, this new edition offers the tools you need to develop formal treatment plans that meet the demands of HMOs, managed care companies, third-party payors, and state and federal agencies. Organized around twenty-six presenting problems, the easy-to-use format and over 1,000 prewritten symptom descriptions, treatment goals, objectives, and interventions makes the task of developing an evidence-based treatment plan more efficient than ever. The treatment of mental health disorders is rapidly evolving, and new evidence-based protocols are being adopted by federal and state organizations. You are now required to closely monitor patient progress, and you may feel pressure to stick to standardized care and reporting procedures; however, you can only do so if you have access to the latest in evidence-based treatment plans. Updated with new and revised evidence-based Objectives and Interventions Integrated DSM-5 diagnostic labels and ICD-10 codes into the Diagnostic Suggestions section of each chapter Many more suggested homework assignments integrated into the Interventions An Appendix demonstrates the use of the personality disorders Proposed Dimensional System of DSM-5. Expanded and updated self-help book list in the Bibliotherapy Appendix Revised, expanded and updated Professional Reference Appendix New Recovery Model Appendix D listing Objectives and Interventions allowing the integration of a recovery model orientation into treatment plans