Managing Intense Emotions and Overcoming Self-Destructive Habits: A Self-Help Manual

The treatment of personality disorder is a major concern facing current mental health services.Managing Intense Emotions and Overcoming Self-Destructive Habitsis a self-help manual for people who would meet the diagnosis of 'emotionally unstable' or 'borderline personality disorder' (BPD). The title outlines a brief intervention that is based on a model of treatment known to be effective for other conditions, such as anxiety, depression and bulimia. The manual describes the problem areas, the skills needed to overcome them and how these skills can be developed. Areas covered include: * The condition and controversy surrounding diagnosis of BPD Drug and alcohol misuse *Emotional dysregulation and the role of thinking habits and beliefs *Depression and difficult mood states *Childhood abuse and relationship difficulties It will be essential reading for people with BPD and professionals involved in their care - psychologists, psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists and occupationaltherapists.

Lorraine Bell is Consultant Clinical Psychologist for Portsmouth HealthCare NHS Trust.