Clinical Staging as a Novel Approach for Selecting Psychological Treatment Levels for Older Adults with Borderline Personality Disorder

Objectives In this paper, a novel approach is presented for selecting psychological treatment levels for older adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD). BPD tends to be a lifelong disorder persisting into old age, with a specific presentation of BPD symptoms in later life, which is illustrated by three different clinical cases. Methods Recently, a clinical staging and health management model for BPD was presented to assist in selecting appropriate treatment approaches. Results We combined this clinical staging model for BPD across the lifespan with psychotherapeutic treatment levels for older adults with personality disorders. Conclusions This may allow for a more accurate treatment selection for older adults with BPD and was applied to the three clinical cases. Finally, implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.

Automated summary

This paper presents a novel approach for selecting psychological treatment levels for older adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD). It illustrates the specific presentation of BPD symptoms in later life through three clinical cases. By combining the clinical staging model for BPD and psychotherapeutic treatment levels for older adults with personality disorders, a more accurate treatment selection for older adults with BPD can be achieved.