Treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD) can be a difficult, ongoing process that lasts years. It usually consists of individual or group psychotherapy and use of medications.

In recent years, a form of cognitive behavior therapy known as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was developed to treat BPD. This form of therapy concentrates on a patient’s internal experiences and their relationships to other people, and examines self-destructive behavior patterns. Patients are encouraged to learn new coping skills that can help them gain better control of their behaviors and emotions.

Some patients may also benefit from using certain types of medication. Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are most often prescribed for patients with BPD. In some cases, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) may be used as a form of therapy. Other medications that may be used to treat BPD include:

• Antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol). Medications that are used to treat psychoses such as schizophrenia.
  
  
• Lithium. A chemical element used to stabilize fluctuating moods (mood stabilizer).
  
  
• Anticonvulsants. Used primarily to prevent seizures, these drugs may also reduce depression and act as mood stabilizers.
  

Severe cases of BPD may require hospitalization. Approximately 20 percent of all psychiatric hospitalizations are related to BPD, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.