THE MASTERSON GROUP, P.C.

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
of the Personality Disorders

Descriptions of Books by James F. Masterson, M.D.

TREATMENT OF THE BORDERLINE ADOLESCENT: A Developmental Approach, A Volume in the Wiley Series on Personality Processes, edited by Irving B. Weiner

This book - based on ten years of clinical research - challenges the prevailing view that treatment of the Borderline must be only supportive; that the patient is unable to work through his core defenses.

Treatment of the Borderline Adolescent provides a key to the clinical mysteries of this disorder by presenting a comprehensive separation-individuation theory which lays bare the underlying psychodynamic anatomy of the Borderline and so enhances the understanding of transference and resistance that it makes intensive psychotherapy not only possible, but the preferred treatment for many of these patients. If the patient receives the proper therapeutic support - as outlined in this book - he can and will work through much of the painful effect associated with this developmental problem.

Part One, "The Borderline Adolescent," presents the developmental theory of a separation-individuation failure contrasting the findings of Mahler on normal separation-individuation with those seen in the Borderline Adolescent. It introduces the key concepts of the abandonment depression and the narcissistic oral fixation. It then demonstrates how the theory clarifies the clinical picture of both the adolescent and his parents.

Part Two, "The Therapeutic Process: Inpatient," describes the three phased treatment of the adolescents and the casework treatment of the parents. The results of the inpatient treatment are then evaluated in terms of continuity and change.

Part Three, "The Therapeutic Process: Outpatient," carries the study of treatment through a second outpatient year. Together, Parts Two and Three stress the need for a treatment which is both intensive and long-term.

Part Four, "Other Therapeutic Factors," applies this developmental approach to outpatient treatment alone. In addition, indications and contraindications for treatment, countertransference, and problems of differential diagnosis are discussed.

Finally, the author takes a retrospective look at some of his earlier published studies to further illustrate the advantages offered by the new separation-individuation perspective presented in this book.

All psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, psychologists and social workers who work in any way with adolescents will find this authoritative treatment of an important subject of value to their work. Specialists in personality assessment will find it a meaningful contribution to the area of psychological test evaluation.