Borderline and Narcissistic Conditions

Integrated Child & Adult Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (ICAPP)
2021-22, 3rd Block — Mondays, 6:30-7:45pm

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Introduction

In this eight-week course, we will focus on the dynamics and treatment of Narcissistic and Borderline character organization. Through readings and case material, we aim to strike a balance between clinical theory and practice experience. In our sessions we will review key concepts in the readings for each week while applying these to our own clinical experiences.

In preparation for our sessions, while reading the material for the week, you may find it useful to attend to your emotional reactions in addition to your critical thinking. In what ways do you like/not like, agree/disagree with the writer? Why? What relevance, if any, does the material have for your clinical work? How does it help inform your understanding of a particular case or cases?

Learning Objectives

In this class, participants will learn to:

1. elaborate a psychodynamic conception of personality, levels of personality organization (neurotic-borderline-psychotic), and types of character organization;
2. diagnose and treat patients with narcissistic and borderline character organizations;
3. develop their own nuanced view of psychoactive prescribed medications in a psychoanalytic or psychodynamic treatment setting.

January 24, 2022 — Personality and Personality Disorders

[61 pages]

Caligor, E.; Kernberg, O.F.; Clarkin, J.F.; & Yeomans, F.E. (2018) Ch2, Personality and Personality Disorders Within the Framework of Object Relations in Psychodynamic Therapy for Personality Pathology, pp21-76.

A general introduction to a commonly-used contemporary psychoanalytic formulation of personality.

Erwin, E., Ed. (2001). The Freud Encyclopedia: Theory, Therapy, and Culture. New York: Routledge. pp355-359.

A Freudian conceptualization.

Optional Reading

Lingiardi, V.; McWilliams, N. (Eds.) (2017). Ch1, “Personality Syndromes” in Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (2nd Edition, PDM-2). New York: Guilford Press. pp15-29

This reading provides a brief background on conceptualizing personality structure and developmental levels.