Phenomenological Perspective of Borderline Personality Disorder: Clinical Application

         "The construct of BPD emerged from the observation of patients who seemed on the                     surface to be compos mentis (who were not psychotic and could converse in socially                     competent ways) but who appeared on closer examination to have in some sense, only a             'mask of sanity'" (Bradley & Westen, 2005, p. 928). 


    Due to the tendency of those diagnosed with BPD to focus on the negative aspects of relationships and move in ways in which to avoid their fears of rejection, abandonment and victimization, positive psychology as a phenomenological perspective to treatment fits well (Bradley & Westen, 2005; SeyedEbrahimi, 2022). Bradley & Westen (2005) suggest there are five questions clinicians should address when working with BPD patients, the first three of these questions focus on the structure of one's personality, while the last three focus on symptom presentation and expression and how these have evolved. 
    
    When treating an individual diagnosed with BPD using a positive psychology phenomenological perspective and incorporating the questions suggested by Bradley & Westen (2005), treatment could be quite rewarding for the patient in the long run. As an example, in a study by SeyedEbrahimi (2022), significant differences in emotional regulation were found among individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder who took part in positive thinking exercises. 


    While addressing structure and processes of personality development and maintenance, the clinician would want to ask the patient about what they wish for, fear, and value and to what extent these motives are conscious, conflicting or compatible, what the cognitive processes are including emotional and self-regulation, and the individuals capacity for intimate relationships as well as how they view themselves inside and outside of those relationships (Bradley & Westen, 2005). Additionally, the clinician would want to focus on strengths of the individual while confronting thinking errors (Bradley & Westen, 2005; SeyedEbrahimi, 2022). 


    To address growth and development, the clinician would want to ask the patient what ways the person has experienced symptoms in the past and presently and how their personality and symptoms have evolved over time (Bradley & Westen, 2005). In doing so, it would be important for the clinician to emphasize any positive attributes, such as self-awareness that may be present, or willingness to change. 


References


Bradley, R. & Westen, D. (2005). The psychodynamics of borderline personality disorder: A view from developmental psychology. Development and Psychopathology, 17, 927–957


SeyedEbrahimi, S. (2022). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapy and positive thinking on emotion regulation and defense mechanisms in people with borderline personality disorder in improving post-traumatic brain injury. Journal of Assessment and Research in Applied Counseling, 4(1), 13-22. https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/jarac/article/view/103

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