Treatment of personality disorder: Skills-based therapies

Abstract

A variety of therapies have been developed or adapted to treat personality disorder over recent years. This article will review skills-based treatments (as opposed to insight-based treatments). Two approaches are outlined: cognitive-behavioural therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy. The article details the underpinning theory and the model of personality disorder utilised by the two approaches, and describes how the therapy is applied. Evidence of therapeutic efficacy is presented along with information about accessing training and therapy materials.