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The borderline-narcissistic personality disorder continuum
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|January 1, 1981
Summary
Conceptualizing borderline and narcissistic personality disorders on a continuum offers clinical utility. Psychotherapy can facilitate patient progression from borderline to narcissistic personality disorder presentations.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) are distinct yet related personality disorders.
- Understanding the relationship between BPD and NPD is crucial for effective treatment planning.
Observation:
- The author proposes viewing BPD and NPD along a developmental continuum.
- This continuum is conceptualized using three primary developmental lines.
- A case study illustrates therapeutic progression within this framework.
Findings:
- Patients can progress from more severe borderline traits towards narcissistic personality disorder features during psychotherapy.
- The continuum model provides a framework for understanding and tracking therapeutic change.
- Developmental lines offer insights into the underlying mechanisms of personality disorder evolution.
Implications:
- This conceptualization can enhance diagnostic precision and treatment tailoring for personality disorders.
- It offers a dynamic perspective on personality disorder pathology, moving beyond static categorization.
- Psychotherapists can utilize this continuum model to guide interventions and assess treatment outcomes in BPD and NPD.