[Success and failure in the treatment of patients with borderline personality disorder]

This paper reviews the main treatment options for patients with borderline personality disorder. Pharmacological interventions are of marginal value, and hospitalization has not been shown to prevent suicide in this population. Psychodynamic psychotherapy has not been proven to be effective, but dialectical behavior therapy yields symptomatic improvement. Borderline patients present many special difficulties in therapy, particularly their chronic suicidality. Future developments in treatment could involve improved drug treatment combined with cognitive therapy.