Borderline Personality Disorder Group Therapy

Group Therapy Proposal: Borderline Personality Disorder

Introduction

Borderline Personality Disorder affects teens and adults. There exists enough research about how this disorder affects adults, but content about how it affects teenagers is slim. Teens represent a sensitive group in society. They are in the development phase and experience behavioral change. As a result, teens often become victims of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a situation that becomes confusing to caregivers and parents. The series of changes during adolescence makes it challenging to define the actual BPD symptoms among teens. There have been controversies on whether this particular group fits in the category requiring a BPD diagnosis. However, the personality effects among teens and how it contributes to shaping their future lives necessitate BPD diagnosis to help address the growing challenges. BPD is a mental health disorder characterized by compromised relationships, odd behaviors, varied moods, and affects self-image. When people suffer from BPD, it becomes challenging for them to control their moods, and this has significant effects on their personal lives and how they interact with other people. More specifically, for adolescents who have not fully developed, the disorder can significantly affect their behavior and character formation. Besides, BPD effects on adolescents and associated interventions make it challenging for therapists to design the most appropriate strategies to respond to the needs of this population set (Sharp & Fonagy, 2015).

The focus of this research on BPD is essential because of the importance attached to emotional control and mood changes. The research examines the mood changes among adolescents. It serves as a good milestone in exploring possible therapeutic interventions that can assist in supporting adolescents to control their moods and hence develop positive social relationships. To help derive the best findings on BPD, the study will be designed to incorporate existing research on BPD to help identify the existing therapeutic suggestions to counter BPD among adolescents. It will also utilize past statistical figures that demonstrate the prevalence of possible incidences of BPD among teenagers.

Rationale

Adolescents depict variation in behavioral changes because of the hormonal influences during this transition phase. As a result, it is possible to mistake BPD with these changes, needing a specific focus on this population category (Sharp & Fonagy, 2015). Focusing on adolescents as a group to examine the effects of BPD helps in generating diverse data. It helps give a more comprehensive picture of what BPD teenagers go through and the challenges faced by their parents in trying to understand and control their behavior. The findings will be more comprehensive when the participants are from varying groups, social classes, locations, and other environments that influence them. The result is a more reliable outcome that gives a better representation of the actual effects of BPD. Such a rationale also helps eliminate the bias of using a less integrated sample.

Literature Review

Continuous research has contributed to having a better understanding of BPD. BPD has been linked to suicide in some cases because it contributes to depression and functional impairments. While no concrete information fully explains the root causes of BPD, research reveals some genetic connections with some people depicting higher chances of developing BPD. Unfortunately, many people fail to seek medical attention making the disorder more prevalent (Leichsenring et al., 2011). Research indicates that the historical myth about BPD in adolescents and possible reasons to disregard its examination has been proven wrong by clinical records that provide practitioners with valid data about BPD\\\\\\\'s prevalence. Active assessment becomes essential in responding to this disorder by designing precise diagnosis methods that help identify and correct BPD among adolescents (Sharp & Fonagy, 2015). Indeed, the authors note that a lack of solid research about BPD in adolescents and predisposing factors affects how medical practitioners approach this disorder. As a result, the recurring effects manifest in later life strategies. This raises the fundamental question of preventive interventions.

BPD is linked to inappropriate, uncontrolled, and intense anger (Berenson et al., 2011). According to the authors, couples known to have BPD recorded numerous instances of marital violence and amplified chances of marital dissolution. The hostility becomes uncontrollable, and rage increases the case of self-harm. However, the authors note that these incidences vary from one individual to another, but one thing is common among people with BPD-they have the feeling of rejection. As a result, they withdraw from relationships, affecting their personal growth. Adolescents experiencing BPD that manifests itself in this manner grow as weak players in relationships, affecting their future lives. They feel insecure and often stressed. Berenson et al. (2011) explain that people with BPD have extreme anger levels, but they fluctuate once they have different encounters. Besides, dialectical behavior therapy positively affects people with BPD because it incorporates various practices that ensure the effects are reduced. For instance, individuals undergo telephone coaching and skills training to adopt positive behavior (Linehan et al., 2015).

According to Reuter et al. (2015), there is a relationship between BPD and teen dating violence. The authors note that in research involving 778 adolescents, borderline features were conspicuously evident among victims of violence. Thus, borderline features must be integrated when addressing teen dating violence and victimization. Therefore, research needs to address the related factors and design a group therapy solution to address the challenge. While BPD is often considered challenging to diagnose, several symptoms are associated with BPD in teens. Depression is a common symptom among teens with BPD. Teens experience frequent variations in their moods, making them react unexpectedly. For instance, they can change from being happy to extremely angry. They develop a deep fear of rejection and abandonment, making them feel constantly insecure.

Consequently, they tend to be inclined toward people they believe guarantee them some security. However, since their BPD has the effects of fluctuating feelings, it becomes challenging for them to maintain relationships. This happens in peer relationships, family relationships, and other social connections. Teens with BPD often engage in risky and impulsive behavior. It is common to find some of them engaging in behaviors that relate to self-harm, such as suicide. They also depict paranoia. However, it is important to indicate that symptoms differ from one teenager to another, but the fundamental method of assessing the mental changes in behavioral changes (Sharp & Fonagy, 2015).

For this reason, BPD diagnosis focuses on behavioral changes and the motivations behind a specific behavior. For instance, a teenager who engages in substance abuse does not necessarily make a candidate for BPD. However, suppose such a teenager engages in substance abuse with the primary motive being emotional management or to avoid some problems. In that case, that can be a positive sign that they have BPD. BPD can be prevented by adopting various interventions. First, it establishes structures that minimize the possibilities of trauma exposure. Early detection is also an important preventive measure. When parents notice a change in behavior in teens, they should seek therapeutic interventions to help manage the condition before it becomes destructive (Sharp & Fonagy, 2015).

Target Population

The research will target teens between thirteen and nineteen years old. The intensity informs this choice of behavioral changes among adolescents and the potential effects of such behavior in their lives. Besides the effect it has on parents and caregivers. Various factors increase the risk of teens getting BPD. Most of the factors are similar to the predisposing factors evident in adults. As a result, the following risk factors were considered in getting the population to examine this disorder. First is the brain differences that manifest in how teens respond emotionally and in terms of their impulses. The second consideration is environmental factors such as child neglect and abuse, separation from parents, and loss. This influences the mental capability of the child and equally exposes the child to BPD. The third factor worth considering is family history; if a kid is raised in a family that exposes them to substance abuse, depression, or antisocial behavior, getting BPD increases significantly. Lastly, the genetic factors. A genetic component of BPD is inherited (Sharp & Fonagy, 2015; Reuter et al., 2015). These four considerations guide the study in identifying teens most likely exposed to BPD and the best intervention methods for training and support.

The exclusion and inclusion criteria will be guided by factors that influence BPD. Since the disorder is often linked to comorbid diagnoses, the research will exclude adolescents with recorded cases of psychotic disorder, substance intoxication, and cognitive impairment. Adolescents under medication will also be excluded. Individuals with these health conditions like to provide invalid data.

To get the ideal participants for the project, the research will provide advertisements and bulletin boards mostly visited by this age group (13-18 years) and where the parents of the teens are likely to be more active. The screening will be done by telephone, through which consent will be requested from parents and the teens. Numerous risks could affect the research and affect the participants during this process. Adolescents with BPD are highly reactive and likely to decline or provide inaccurate responses. As a group, some members are likely to feel uncomfortable disclosing sensitive information, making it challenging to formulate the correct therapy. Besides, as noted earlier, BPD victims can have some underlying illnesses. Some may be having such illnesses but have not undergone any diagnosis, potentially engaging the wrong participants. In keeping with these possible challenges, considerations must be made in therapy, particularly on the choice of questions and how they are likely to affect the participants. Further, open questions will give the participants freedom to choose the questions they feel comfortable responding to.

Group Type

The research targets adolescents. This group is in its development phase, both physically and mentally. Therefore, the ideal group formats will be training and educational approaches whose effects will be instrumental in tailoring the most effective emotional and mood management interventions. Training helps adolescents understand their behavioral changes and what it means to them. It helps adopt good practices that help in minimizing the effects of BPD, especially when the condition sets in during the most significant phase of their growth. When this is combined with educational interventions derived from their learning environment, it will help the participants learn about their condition., learn from others and build a support team that helps them overcome challenges. Additionally, it is vital to note that some BPD responses have a close relationship with the behavioral changes during the transitional phase of childhood to adulthood. Hence, the participants need to understand the differences between such transitions and BPD.

The project is designed to target 25 teens. It will take one month with weekly meetings with the participants. The set budget informs the frequency of meetings to allow maximum data collection. Most of the meetings will be conducted remotely with possible integration of physical meetings for questions requiring emotional presence. Remote meetings are cheaper because they reduce physical traveling and allow the participants to choose the best engagement time. Besides, such a schedule allows for the integration of participants from different states. The requests will be made through advertisement, allowing diversity in location and types of groups. A reliable study integrates diverse data, and by allowing different groups to participate in this project, the findings will be credible and can be generalized. Thus, the group will be open, and the only requirements will be the age bracket and adherence to the inclusion and exclusion principle described above.

Group Orientation

The orientation to use in this study will be within a family therapy modality. More specifically, the study will utilize cognitive behavioral therapy to assess how adolescents think about themselves and which characteristics of BPD are evident in their cognitive abilities. Here, it is important to indicate the participants are still exhibiting mental growth, and it is the pillar of analysis of BPD. Thus, more emphasis will be on cognitive therapy. Indeed, this will be the most felt during remote participant engagements. It will also utilize interpersonal therapy, which greatly examines how adolescents relate with their peers and the state of their relationship with their parents and caregivers. It is worth noting that the participants\\\\\\\' cognitive abilities guide interpersonal therapy. Hence, most interpersonal behaviors can be predicted from the outcomes of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Lastly, the study will utilize dialectical behavioral therapy to examine the change in behavior among adolescents.

A typical example is the tendency to engage in alcohol and substance abuse to match their self-image with their peers. The three approaches touch on the most sensitive issues affecting adolescents and how the behavior relates to BPD. Such orientations will also aid in collecting more tangible data that can be verified through secondary sources. The orientations are tailored to help the participants understand their behavior and serve as educative methods to help them counter BPD effects. For example, the participants will understand why some of their peers adopt specific behavior and why they are unique. Besides, it also helps the parents and caregivers choose the most appropriate interventions that resonate with the needs of their children.