Understanding Mechanisms of Change in Psychotherapies for Personality Disorders

Ueli Kramer, PhD, is professor for psychiatry and psychotherapy director of the Institute of Psychotherapy at the department of psychiatry, University of Lausanne, Switzerland and adjunct professor at the department of psychology, University of Windsor, Canada. His research focuses on process and outcome in psychotherapy, in particular the mechanisms of change in treatments of personality disorders, and case formulation in personality disorders. Dr. Kramer is past president of the European Society for Psychotherapy Research and current president of the European Society for the Study of Personality Disorders.  Kenneth N. Levy, PhD, is a tenured professor, associate director of clinical training, and was interim codirector of the Psychological Clinic in the department of psychology at Pennsylvania State University, where he directs the Laboratory for the Study of Personality, Psychopathology, and Psychotherapy. He is a certified transference-focused therapist, teacher, and supervisor. Dr. Levy amp rsquo s clinical and research interests are attachment theory, personality disorders, and the psychotherapy process and outcomes. Dr. Levy amp rsquo s work has led to recognition for organizations such as the American Psychological Association, the North American Society for the Study of Personality Disorders, and the American Psychoanalytic Association.  Shelley McMain, PhD, is head of the Borderline Personality Disorder Clinic and senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada director of the Psychotherapy, Humanities and Psychosocial Interventions Division associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto and president of the Transitional Board of the World Federation of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Dr. McMain's clinical interests include dialectical behavior therapy, borderline personality disorder, emotion regulation, and mechanisms of change. Her work has been recognized by various international professional associations, including the European Society for the Study of Personality Disorders and the American Psychoanalytic Association.

• Introduction. Synthesizing Diverse Perspectives on Personality DisordersChapter . The Importance of Developing a Focus on Mechanisms of Change in PsychotherapyChapter 2. Personality Disorders: A Conceptualization in Functional DomainsChapter 3. The First Session of Psychotherapy and Getting Started in TreatmentChapter 4. Moving From Emotional Dysregulation to Emotional BalanceChapter 5. Moving From Problematic Social Interactions to Interpersonal EffectivenessChapter . Moving From Identity Diffusion to an Integrated Sense of SelfChapter 7. Moving From Impulsive Behavior to Self-ReflectionChapter 8. Moving From Cognitive amp ndash Perceptual Disturbances to Coherent and Reality-Based NarrativesChapter 9. Challenges in the Therapeutic Relationship and How to Use Them Productively in PsychotherapyChapter . Discussing Mechanisms of Change in Psychotherapies for Personality DisordersReferencesIndexAbout the Authors