Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents: A Complete Guide to Understanding and Coping When Your Adolescent has BPD - Softcover

Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents is written specifically for parents of BPD teens. The book covers basic information on the diagnosis of BPD in adolescents, how the symptoms of BPD are expressed in teens and the causes of BPD. Practical advice on how to find treatment, decrease "manipulative" behaviors in your teen and deal with other BPD-related behaviors (e.g., self-harm, "emotional storms") is also included. Dr. Aguirre is the medical director of the Adolescent Dialectical Behavior Therapy Center at McLean Hospital, an institution that is world-renowned for BPD treatment. In the book, he describes the dialectical behavior therapy approach to treating teens with BPD. Dr. Aguirre combines his clinical expertise with solid research support. While the primary audience for this book is parents, it is also a great resource for mental health professionals, physicians and teachers. It is highly recommended for anyone living or working with adolescents with BPD. --about dot com

As a child psychologist, I get very tired of the neo-Freudian mumbo-jumbo that is often associated with this diagnosis. Not only is such an approach not not very effective, but you have to buy all sorts of (ahem) crapola to even start in on it. This book is a real relief. When I got it I assumed it was just more Freudian malarky, but it isn't. Very CBT and DBT oriented, at least in practice, and I highly recommend it. --snipe

First, I am NOT advising anyone to replace any treatment with this book. I'd simply like to guide parents who, like us, may have been chasing their tails in search of a proper diagnosis and treatment for your teen to this new source of help and hope. Unlike many mental health care professionals, Dr. Aguirre truly attempts to understand the BPD teen and their families, rather than label and medicate. Last year we spent over 18K on treatment for depression, bipolar and/or PTSD, all the while knowing BPD was her afflication (family history). Only to have our asthmatic honor student move in with the boyfriend, drop out of school, start smoking and get 3 tatoos - last month. Reading this book has changed our lives in a matter of days. Dr. Aguirre really 'gets it' and once I was able to speak that understanding truth with my BPD teen - she lit up! She is impressed with his knowledge of BPD depression sometimes not being anything like classical depression. She says her lows are due to feelings of shame and guilt, "I never have a I can't get outta bed sadness." She also agreed that while she is able to pass advanced English courses and write beautiful stories, she lacks the ability to express her feelings. It felt so good to she her finally feel understood. I know that we still have a long way to go and lots more work to do but this book gave me hope that we are finally headed in the right direction. Thanks Dr. Aguirre!!! --K Wyant--Finding any valid information on BPD in adolescents is close to impossible. We have a 15-yo daughter in a therapeutic boarding school after trying every outpatient treatment available. While our daughter has not engaged in any serious external behaviors, she has lived the last years in a constant state of dysphoria and wild attention-seeking schemes. She's was diagnosed with bi-polar w/psychosis when she was 12 and has since been diagnosed w/BPD as well. Dr. Aguierre's experience in treating adolescents w/BPD provides not only a valid perspective, it also gives very practical advise. This is a must read book! --Sandra--This book is right on the money. I was growing so tired of telling psych professionals, "no....my daughter is not bi-polar". Now I know that they are scared of the taboo of BPD. Now I know how my daughters thoughts and emotions work. Now I know that other people have it harder than I do, SO FAR. This book opened my eyes to a lot. I don't know yet if it will help my little girl, but it has already helped me.--Jason W Mccelland --Jason W Mccelland

"Families and their children with BPD will find this book a very useful guide as they struggle together toward a more fully realized life."-Mary C. Zanarini, Ed.D., Director, Laboratory for the Study of Adult Development, McLean Hospital and Professor of Psychology, Harvard Medical School "A must-have book for every parent with a borderline child."-Randi Kreger, Coauthor of Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care about Has Borderline Personality Disorder "Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents is a long overdue book that eloquently and expertly addresses the wide-ranging issues surrounding borderline personality disorder in adolescents. This compassionate book is a must for parents with children suffering from borderline personality disorder, as well as clinicians, educators, pediatricians, and clergy trying to understand and help adolescents with this serious, chronic disorder."-Perry D. Hoffman, Ph.D., President, National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents offers parents, caregivers, and adolescents themselves a complete understanding of this complex and tough-to-treat disorder. This comprehensive guide thoroughly explains what BPD is and what a patient's treatment options are, including the revolutionary new treatment called dialectic behavior therapy. Author Blaise A. Aguirre, M.D., one of the foremost experts in the field, describes recent advances in treatments and brings into focus what we do and don't know about this condition. Readers will learn the differences between BPD and other adolescent psychiatric diagnoses; treatment options (e.g., medication and therapy); how to choose the right therapist; how to determine when inpatient treatment is necessary; how to enforce boundaries; how to take care of and protect yourself; and practical techniques for effective communication with those who have BPD.