This 8-hour self-paced course offers training in an empirically validated treatment approach to borderline personality disorder (BPD) known as Good or General Psychiatric Management (GPM). This generalist approach to managing this prevalent, disabling and sometimes fatal but treatable diagnosis is good enough for most clinicians and most patients, and provides mental health professionals with guidelines they need to become skilled providers who can derive satisfaction from treating patients with BPD.
Management strategies using practicality, good sense, and flexibility are emphasized. Listening, validation, judicious self-disclosures, and advisement to build a life rather than focus on being a patient create a positive relationship in which both the concerns and limitations of a mental health professional are explicit. Techniques and interventions that facilitate the patient’s trust and willingness to become a proactive collaborator will be described. Guidelines for managing the common and usually most burdensome issues of managing suicidality and self-harm (e.g. intersession crises, threats as a call-for-help, excessive use of ER’s or hospitals) will be reviewed. Principles for the management of co-morbidities and medications from a evidence-based point of view are presented pragmatically. How and when psychiatrists can usefully integrate group, family, or other psychotherapies will be described.
