FAMILY-THERAPY FOR ADOLESCENTS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING BORDERLINE PERSONALITY-DISORDER

The family therapy of twenty-four cases of adolescents diagnosed as ha ving borderline personality disorder is described. In comparison to ma tched psychiatric controls, the families of these adolescents were mor e angry and irritable and had higher rates of sexual abuse and sibling psychopathology. Relationship difficulties, in particular oscillating attachments, were frequently seen in therapy, which was more tumultuo us with frequent impulsive acts of self-harm.