Schema Therapy Gives New Hope for 'Untreatable' Borderline Personality Disorder

A controlled study appearing in the Archives of General Psychiatry shows that Schema Therapy (SFT) is twice as effective a treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder as the widely practiced approach, Transference Focused Psychotherapy (TFP).

Eighty-six Dutch patients with Borderline Personality Disorder were recruited for the study and received either Schema Therapy (SFT) or Transference Focused Psychotherapy (TFP) twice a week for its duration. After three years, 45 percent of patients from the SFT group showed a full recovery as opposed to 24 percent receiving TFP. One year later the percentages rose to 52 and 29 percent respectively with 70 percent of the patients in the SFT group showing significant signs of improvement. Dropout figures for SFT were also significantly lower at 27 percent versus 50 percent for TFP.

These findings strongly contradict the belief by some that Borderline Personality Disorder is untreatable and does not warrant further scientific investigation.

ABSTRACT: Outpatient Psychotherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder

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