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Published Date: 29 January 2025

Good Psychiatric Management of Borderline Personality Disorder and Co-Occurring Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Borderline personality disorder has been estimated to occur among about 4% of those with autism spectrum disorder. This co-occurrence can escalate the challenges of treating either condition separately, and patients often face severe challenges in psychosocial and occupational functioning. Clinicians need guidance to manage a high degree of complexity, using standards of care and a synthesis of what is known so far, to navigate the currently limited armamentarium of clinical tools. This article reviews the available scientific research and clinical experience with respect to diagnosis, psychoeducation, treatment framework, safety management, other co-occurring disorders, and multimodal treatments. It also discusses future directions for generating new knowledge to improve the care of patients with this important co-occurrence. Although the discussion explores the unique complexity and relative lack of clinical guidelines at present, good psychiatric management serves as a clinical framework that anchors treatment approaches as the evidence base develops.

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Information

Published In

Go to American Journal of Psychotherapy
Go to American Journal of Psychotherapy
American Journal of Psychotherapy
Pages: 35 - 45
PubMed: 39876703

History

Received: 6 November 2023
Revision received: 20 October 2024
Accepted: 24 October 2024
Published online: 29 January 2025
Published in print: March 01, 2025

Keywords

  1. Borderline Personality Disorder
  2. Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  3. Autism Spectrum Disorder
  4. Diagnosis and Classification
  5. Evidence-Based Treatment
  6. Comorbid Conditions

Authors

Details

Robert B. Dudas, M.D., Ph.D.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom, and Department of Psychiatry, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom (Dudas); Spectrum Personality Disorder Service, Eastern Health, Richmond, Victoria, Australia (Cheney).
Lukas Cheney, M.B.B.S. lukas.cheney@easternhealth.org.au
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom, and Department of Psychiatry, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom (Dudas); Spectrum Personality Disorder Service, Eastern Health, Richmond, Victoria, Australia (Cheney).

Notes

Send correspondence to Dr. Cheney (lukas.cheney@easternhealth.org.au).

Competing Interests

The authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

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