Books / Psychodynamic & attachment
Borderline Conditions and Pathological Narcissism
Otto F. Kernberg’s 1975 book presents a psychoanalytic account of borderline conditions and pathological narcissism.
Book details
Author of listed edition: Otto F. Kernberg
Edition: 1975 Jason Aronson edition
Publisher: Jason Aronson
Edition year: 1975
Language and origin: English (United States)
Form and genre: Clinical & Theoretical Monograph
Level: Advanced
Historical era: 1960–1979 · Humanistic, Cognitive & Systemic Turn
Covers: Kernberg’s account of borderline personality organisation; Psychoanalytic perspectives on narcissism; Clinical theory and treatment
APA 7th reference: Kernberg, O. F. (1975). Borderline conditions and pathological narcissism. Jason Aronson.
What it is
Borderline Conditions and Pathological Narcissism is a book by psychiatrist Otto F. Kernberg, published by Jason Aronson in 1975.
What it covers
Kernberg discusses borderline conditions and narcissism within a psychoanalytic framework. His terminology and interpretations belong to that historical theory and should not be treated as a diagnosis of an individual.
Later research
A later 2007 study randomly assigned 90 participants to transference-focused psychotherapy, dialectical behaviour therapy or supportive treatment for one year. The reported results concern these participants and treatments; the study does not validate every claim in the 1975 book.
Limits of this entry
The library catalogue, bibliographic records and the trial abstract were consulted. The complete book and trial report were not reviewed. This entry does not determine which treatment is suitable for an individual.
Paired academic and clinical scholarship
Paired work: Evaluating Three Treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder: A Multiwave Study (John F. Clarkin, Kenneth N. Levy, Mark F. Lenzenweger, and Otto F. Kernberg, 2007)
Reference: Clarkin, J. F., Levy, K. N., Lenzenweger, M. F., & Kernberg, O. F. (2007). Evaluating three treatments for borderline personality disorder: A multiwave study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164(6), 922–928.
A 2007 trial compared three yearlong outpatient treatments for borderline personality disorder in 90 participants. Its abstract was consulted; the trial does not establish that every person will benefit.
Source-mapped claims and evidence notes
Claim 1: Kernberg published Borderline Conditions and Pathological Narcissism in 1975 with Jason Aronson. (The catalogue was consulted; the complete book was not reviewed.) [Source 1: Pacifica Graduate Institute Research Library. Borderline conditions and pathological narcissism, catalogue record.]
Sources and inspection notes
Supports: Catalogue records Kernberg, Jason Aronson and 1975; the complete book was not reviewed.
Supports: Bibliographic record of an earlier paper; the complete article was not reviewed.
Supports: Abstract describes 90 participants randomly assigned to three treatments. The full study was not reviewed.