Il trattamento cognitivo-comportamentale di un caso di disturbo Borderline della Personalità e Dipendenza

Abstract

Individuals who suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) experience intense mood shifts, emotional liability, uncontrolled impulses, and self-harming behaviors to soothe the pain caused by feelings of emptiness in response to a real or imaginary abandonment. These coping strategies initially reduce emotional activation, though they can lead to serious consequences later. Cognitive-behavioural Therapy (CBT) for BPD aims at creating a therapeutic alliance to establish, together with the patient, clear therapeutic objectives. Among these, dysfunctional beliefs cognitive restructuring, identifying early maladaptive Schemas and improving readiness to change in substance use. Skills training promotes the acquisition of interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness. Schema Therapy also helps patients with BPD developing adaptive coping strategies since it enables to work on the unsatisfied emotional needs during childhood, especially those concerning neglect or abuse. The main objective of the Schema Therapy is to provide patients with the functional fulfilment of their primary emotional needs through healthy interpersonal relationships.