General Psychiatric Management (GPM) for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Course Overview

This 8-hour 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, good enough for most clinicians and most patients, to the management of a prevalent, disabling and sometimes fatal but treatable diagnosis provides mental health professionals 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 a mental health professional’s concerns and limitations 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.

The course utilizes group discussion, video clips and clinical vignettes to promote interactive learning and a comprehensive understanding of the treatment.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for Primary Care and Specialty Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists, Physician Assistants, Psychologists, and Social Workers. This course is also of interest to physicians who practice in Psychiatry and Psychology and Mental Health.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Explain the diagnosis to patients and families and establish reasonable expectations for change (psychoeducation).
• Manage the problem of recurrent suicidality and self-harm while limiting personal burden and liability.
• Expedite alliance-building via use of medications and homework.
• Identify when to prioritize BPD's treatment and when to defer until a comorbid disorder is resolved.