Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder: The Dialectical Approach

A straightforward introduction for therapists, this video addresses fundamental questions about the nature of borderline personality disorder (BPD), its causes, and how it can effectively be treated with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Dr. Linehan begins by presenting clinically relevant features of BPD and describing the underlying causes of the disorder, with an emphasis on biosocial factors. Segments of actual therapy sessions illustrate the emotional dysregulation that characterizes BPD and the intense distress that sufferers experience. Dr. Linehan discusses the development of DBT, which arose out of her realization that traditional treatments were not working with this client population, and clearly lays out its concepts and principles.  In an especially compelling feature, the video includes live interview sessions between Dr. Linehan and Allen J. Frances, Chairman of the DSM-IV Task Force. In these probing dialogues, Dr. Frances asks Dr. Linehan the nuts-and-bolts questions all clinicians want answered about how DBT works and what its advantages are over other therapies.