Evidence-Based Care of the Patient with Borderline Personality Disorder

Abstract

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex, serious, and high-cost psychiatric disorder. The high prevalence of patients with BPD and co-occurring depression, eating disorders, and substance-use disorders in primary care and mental health settings contribute to their high use of resources in these practice settings. Regardless of treatment challenges associated with BPD, researchers suggest a more positive outlook in the treatment of this complex psychiatric condition. This article focuses on areas in which nurses can strengthen their understanding of underpinnings and multimodal approaches, assess the patient's immediate needs, and manage distressful emotional states and impulsivity.

Keywords: Attachment theory; Borderline personality disorder; Dialectal behavioral therapy; Impulsivity; Mentalization-CBT; Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI); Parasuicide.