Rd. Alarcon et Kl. Leetz, CULTURAL INTERSECTIONS IN THE PSYCHOTHERAPY OF BORDERLINE PERSONALITY-DISORDER, American journal of psychotherapy, 52(2), 1998, pp. 176-190
The psychotherapeutic management of borderline personality disorder (B
PD) cannot escape the all-encompassing influence of culture. While cul
ture affects also pathogenic, pathoplastic, diagnostic, and service as
pects of BPD, it is in the psychotherapeutic arena where a number of p
otentially critical intersections can enhance or undermine BPD's treat
ment outcomes. The cultural perspective in the management of BPD appli
es to areas, such as choice of therapy, unfolding of the psychotherape
utic process, the issue of boundaries, defense mechanisms, treatment s
etting intercurrent suicidal behavior, and use of adjunctive therapies
. Ultimately, the therapist can only offer culturally acceptable premi
ses on which BPD patients can build assumptions about, and explanation
s of their plight.