Mechanisms of Change in Treatments of Personality Disorders: Commentary on the Special Section.

Abstract

Considerable progress has been made in the psychotherapeutic treatment of patients with personality disorders (PDs). Once engendering a pervasive therapeutic nihilism, PDs are starting to be viewed as treatable with a much better prognosis than previously thought. Evidence from several randomized controlled trials demonstrating the effectiveness of various forms of psychotherapy, coupled with findings from several longitudinal studies, suggests that such increased clinical optimism is warranted. However, the persistent focus on treatment brands obscures our understanding of the mechanisms through which benefits are actually realized. This article considers emerging trends in PD treatment research, exemplified by the series of articles contained within this special section, that attempt to identify more precisely the mechanisms of therapeutic change. It is only through such work that we will be able to accomplish further refinement of effective strategies, create possibilities for true integration of therapies, and achieve real progress in the field for the betterment of our patients.