The contribution of interpersonal theory to personality disorder’s diagnosis and treatment
Abstract
SUMMARY Despite the recent advances in its diagnosis (heralded by the revisions in ICD-11 and DSM-5) and the introduction of new approaches to treatment, managing personality disorder remains challenging to the psychiatric practitioner. I believe that one of the main reasons for this is that the condition lacks an overall theory that might guide practitioners in their assessment of it and what they might do to intervene. In this article, I suggest that interpersonal theory might be such a candidate, enabling practitioners to manage this condition more effectively. My aim is to provide a brief introduction to this theory in the hope that practitioners might be encouraged to explore its implications more fully.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy
Publication details
- Journal / source
- BJPsych Advances
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 257–265
- Publication date
- 6 January 2026
- Language
- EN