Borderline personality disorder is a severe and complex psychiatric condition that, until recently, many considered nearly untreatable. But this optimistic guide to BPD provides information that will bring newfound hope to those who have this painful disorder, and to their family and friends. People with borderline personality disorder have problems coping with almost everything, and therefore anything can provoke them to impulsive actions, angry outbursts, and self-destructive behaviors. Their personal relationships are simultaneously overly dependent and strained, if not openly hostile, and frequently explosive. Incorporating the latest research and thinking on the disorder, Johns Hopkins psychiatrists Francis Mark Mondimore and Patrick Kelly conceptualize it in an original way. They explain that symptoms are the result of biological and behavioral problems, extremes of temperament, and impaired psychological coping, all of which may have a relationship with traumatic life events. The authors advocate a therapeutic approach incorporating compassion and optimism in the face of what is often a tumultuous disease. With proper treatment, people with borderline personality disorder can enjoy long remissions and improved quality of life.

Those who crave real answers about the debilitating complexities of borderline personality disorder will find them and then some in this well-crafted book. The authors avoid the subtle stigmatization of people who have BPD that is often found elsewhere. Instead, they offer compassion and hope. As one who has suffered from the illness, I can attest that their characterizations of what goes on in the heart and mind of someone with BPD are spot on. This is a great book! -- Rachel Reiland, author, Get Me Out of Here: My Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder This thorough, compassionate, and readable discussion of Borderline Personality Disorder is essential reading for patients and family members. It will also be invaluable to new and more experienced clinicians wanting to have the most up-to-date knowledge. -- Blaise Aguirre, M.D., Author of Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents: A Complete Guide to Understanding and Coping When Your Adolescent Has BPD This exceptionally well-written book explains the many complexities of borderline personality disorder and dismantles much of the confusion surrounding the disorder. The authors are to be commended for a book that serves everyone in the BPD community: patients, family members, and professionals alike. -- Perry D. Hoffman, Ph.D., President, National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder

About the Author
Francis Mark Mondimore, M.D., is a psychiatrist and member of the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His books include Depression, the Mood Disease; Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families; and Adolescent Depression: A Guide for Parents, all published by Johns Hopkins. Patrick Kelly, M.D., is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and the director of pediatric psychosomatic medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. His research interests include borderline personality disorder development in children.

Reviews
The book is thoughtful, accurate, and user-friendly. -- Joel Paris, MD Psychiatric Times



Book Information
ISBN 9781421403144
Author Francis Mark Mondimore
Format Paperback
Page Count 312
Imprint Johns Hopkins University Press
Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press
Weight(grams) 431g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 19mm