Abstract
Despite the considerable morbidity, mortality and adverse impact on others associated with borderline personality disorders, it is only recently that the condition appears to be getting the attention it deserves. Roy Krawitz and Christine Watson's book is therefore very timely. It contains within its few pages a wealth of useful and practical material for the understanding and management of this disorder.
There are useful chapters on the concept of borderline personality disorder and its aetiology. There is a brief but comprehensive and refreshingly undogmatic and unbiased review of treatment approaches which have recently been developed for the disorder. The authors give their own recommendations for assessment and treatment. There is an emphasis on team approaches, which is particularly applicable for public sector services. The team approach could certainly be adapted to include therapists from the private sector or developed in private clinic settings.
The book has a liberal sprinkling of helpful clinical vignettes. There are also plenty of warnings about the common pitfalls in treatment and how to deal with them. Problems such as self-harm, splitting and suicidal behaviour are given considerable attention. There is a useful discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of inpatient treatment. Medico-legal issues and risk assessment are given appropriate attention.
I thought the chapter on the stigma of the disorder was very well observed. The authors point out that it is the mental health professionals themselves who have given people with borderline personality disorders a bad name and for years have neglected them. This very helpful little book goes some of the way to rectify this neglect.
I think the book is excellent. At $20.00 a copy, no psychiatrist should be without one.