A Controlled Trial of Short-Term Group Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder

This paper describes a group treatment program that was developed and tested in a treatment comparison trial with patients who met criteria for the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. The specific structure, techniques, and therapeutic focus of the group method are described. The design of the group method reflects an integration of diagnostic and etiologic factors specific to the borderline disorder. It also focuses on identifying therapist variables that are critical in the management of this challenging disorder. The process of change within the context of group interactions is illustrated.