Advances in interventions for families with a relative with a personality disorder diagnosis

Considerable research has demonstrated the important role that families play in the trajectory of recovery when partners or children have Axis I disorders, and that families need help, given the impact of a family member's mental illness on them. These factors have spurred the development of a variety of programs and interventions for families of people with Axis I disorders, but programs for family members of people with personality disorders (PDs) are few. This is surprising given research that has demonstrated the important role of families in the course of illness in borderline personality disorder (BPD) in particular and the emerging evidence of the salutary effects of family involvement in treatment for BPD. Thus, although some advances have been made in working with families in which a member has a PD, this field is well behind other disorders. Despite the slow start, several programs have been developed for families with BPD; they are described, along with data supporting their utility.