Books / Cognitive & behavioural
Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder
Marsha M. Linehan’s 1993 clinical guide describes dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for borderline personality disorder, including a balance of acceptance and change.
Book details
Author of listed edition: Marsha M. Linehan
Edition: 1st edition (1993)
Publisher: Guilford Press
Edition year: 1993
Language and origin: English (United States)
ISBN: 9780898621839
Form and genre: Treatment Manual & Clinical Guide
Level: Advanced
Historical era: 1980–2009 · Evidence-Based, Trauma & Integrative Era
Covers: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); Biosocial theory (emotional vulnerability × invalidating environment); Core dialectic of acceptance and change; Hierarchical treatment targets (life-threatening, therapy-interfering, quality-of-life)
APA 7th reference: Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford Press.
What it is
Published in 1993, this clinical guide presents dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), an approach developed by Marsha Linehan for people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
What it covers
The publisher describes a combination of acceptance and change strategies, a biosocial framework, and methods for conducting DBT. The biosocial account is a theoretical model, not a demonstrated explanation for every individual.
Research context
A 1991 randomised trial compared one year of DBT with community treatment as usual for women with borderline personality disorder and recurrent self-harm. The authors reported fewer self-harm episodes and inpatient psychiatric days in the DBT group; measures of depression and suicidal ideation did not differ between groups. The study used historical terminology and its findings do not predict an individual outcome.
Reading this record
This is an advanced clinical guide. The publisher description, a library catalogue and the trial abstract were consulted; the full book was not reviewed. This entry is educational and does not recommend treatment for an individual.
Paired academic and clinical scholarship
Paired work: Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Chronically Parasuicidal Borderline Patients (Marsha M. Linehan, Hubert E. Armstrong, Alejandra Suarez, Douglas Allmon, and Heidi L. Heard, 1991)
Reference: Linehan, M. M., Armstrong, H. E., Suarez, A., Allmon, D., & Heard, H. L. (1991). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of chronically parasuicidal borderline patients. Archives of General Psychiatry, 48(12), 1060–1064.
In a 1991 randomised trial, women with borderline personality disorder and a history of recurrent self-harm received DBT or community treatment as usual. The authors reported differences on some outcomes; the study does not establish the effects of reading this book or outcomes for everyone.
Source-mapped claims and evidence notes
Claim 1: The book presents dialectical behavior therapy, including acceptance and behaviour change strategies. (Publisher description; the full book was not reviewed for this entry.) [Source 1: Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford Press.]
Claim 2: A 1991 randomised trial compared DBT with community treatment as usual for women with borderline personality disorder and recurrent self-harm. (The abstract reports fewer episodes of self-harm and inpatient days in the DBT group, but no between-group differences in measures including suicidal ideation or depression. Findings concern this particular study.) [Source 2: Linehan, M. M., Armstrong, H. E., Suarez, A., Allmon, D., & Heard, H. L. (1991). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of chronically parasuicidal borderline patients. Archives of General Psychiatry, 48(12), 1060–1064.]
Sources and inspection notes
Supports: Publisher identifies the 1993 hardcover, ISBN and broad DBT approach; the full book was not reviewed.
Supports: Abstract of the 1991 randomised study; reports outcomes for women with recurrent self-harm and notes measures without a between-group difference.
Supports: Catalogue records author, 1993 publication and ISBN 9780898621839.