Improving meaningful participation of persons with borderline personality disorders

Background: An increasing number of studies report that the symptoms of borderline personality disorders (BPD) tend to remit or lessen over time but social and occupational functioning frequently remain altered. A review of... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
An increasing number of studies report that the symptoms of borderline personality disorders (BPD) tend to remit or lessen over time but social and occupational functioning frequently remain altered. A review of the literature showed that the functional challenges have been partially captured and an occupational therapy perspective could enrich this area.
Method:
This presentation will synthesize two quantitative and two qualitative studies realized by the author and students. These examined the concepts of life balance, social participation and recovery, in a total of 88 persons with BPD, with the use of validated questionnaires or individual interviews.
Results:
Following the Person-Environment-Occupation Model (Law et al., 1996), some of the specific challenges in daily life for persons with BPD include lack of structure, stability, meaning and satisfaction in activities accomplished. When they work, they tend to over-engage mentally and emotionally and lack active leisure activities outside work. Recovery involves particular personal processes such as individuation and letting go of the past.
Conclusion:
Currently, target of interventions in therapies for BPD are mostly oriented towards symptoms and personality traits. These studies align with this and show that they should also include more explicitly rehabilitative outcomes such as engagement in meaningful activities and life balance.
Application to Practice:
Occupational therapists are key leaders to assess and treat functional challenges of persons with BPD and improve their participation by guiding them to integrate a more structured and balanced use of time that includes personal interests and a variety of meaningful activities and roles.