Treatment Experiences of Women with Borderline Personality Disorder Pubblico

Abstract

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a psychiatric illness characterized by emotional lability, behavioral dysregulation, and interpersonal instabilities. Major depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse disorders, and other psychiatric conditions are common comorbidities. Up to 9% of people diagnosed with BPD commit suicide, with 69-80% engaging in suicidal behaviors (Linehan et al., 2006). Developed in the late 1980s by Marsha Linehan, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a psychotherapy that has been shown to be an effective therapeutic intervention for BPD and suicidal behavior. A form of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), DBT applies acceptance- based validation strategies to the practice of CBT through the framework of dialectics. This project was a qualitative investigation which aimed to assess common experiences of women with BPD enrolled in DBT treatment. Nine in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with women enrolled in DBT programs in Atlanta, GA and surrounding areas. Topics discussed included treatment histories, experiences with the BPD diagnosis, and engagement in DBT. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed for common emerging themes. Findings indicated BPD was a stigmatized diagnosis among the women interviewed but, through various strategies, this stigma was managed. Additionally, DBT was experienced as an effective and superior form of treatment for BPD for reasons including its tangible nature and inherent structure. These key aspects of DBT's benefit can inform the development of future treatment interventions for the disorder.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION - 1 -

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW - 6 -

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY - 17 -

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS - 21 -

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION - 41 -

REFERENCES - 48 -

APPENDIX A: INTERVIEW GUIDE - 61 -

APPENDIX B: CONSENT FORM - 63 -

About this Master's Thesis

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Behavioral Sciences and Health Education
Degree	MPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Health Sciences, Mental Health
Parola chiave	Borderline Personality Disorder Mental Health Treatment DBT Mental Health
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Thompson, Nancy J, Emory University
Committee Members	Elifson, Kirk, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	Does not apply (no collaborating organization)

Ultima modifica

Primary PDF

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions
	Treatment Experiences of Women with Borderline Personality Disorder ()	2018-08-28 16:22:52 -0400	Press to Select an action Download

Supplemental Files

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions