AMMON,GUNTER CONCEPTION OF THE BORDERLINE SYNDROME

The borderline syndrome in Gunter Ammon's conception is regarded as a structural deficit in the central, primarily unconscious part of the p ersonality (human structure) a here above all the functions of demarca tion and identity are disturbed. The structural deficit is the result of experienced and internalized destructive and deficient group dynami cs within the proeoedipal and preverbal developmental phase. This defi cit of identity is frequently compensated by well developed secondary personality functions, i.e. abilities and capacities that the borderli ne-structured person to cope with reality demands. Borderline therapy primarily aims at considering the entire personality including iris de structive, deficient but especially his constructive parts whereby the question for the patient's identity as well as subsequent identity de velopment is decisive, At least in the first phase of therapy formal a nalysis by interpreting transference and resistance should be replaced by a therapy of a direct contact with the therapist or the group, whe reby the inclusion of nonverbal therapeutical methods is useful. Impor tant in this contest is that the various psychotherapeutical methods s uch as dance, music, painting, and above all milieu therapy are relate d to each other and integrated by a common treatment conception.