Borderline personality disorder in times of COVID-19 and therapeutic approaches: a narrative review of non-pharmacological approaches
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25118/2763-9037.2023.v13.787Keywords:
COVID-19, borderline personality disorder, non-pharmacological treatmentAbstract
The COVID-19 pandemic affected all aspects of life, as the virus was spread globally, and social isolation was the most widespread preventive measure. The COVID-19 pandemic is a potentially dangerous reality that may negatively influence the clinical conditions of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and cause severe consequences due to lack of support. The aim of this study was to assess how COVID-19 affected patients with BPD and which non-pharmacological approaches were adopted. Patients with BPD are lonelier, have fewer social contacts, and feel less need for and joy in social touch compared to the general population. It is necessary that health professionals be trained briefly therapy programs or psychotherapies. This cost can be compensated by the improvement of the families' well-being, as well as by the reduction of psychiatric symptoms and burden in the family environment. The dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was the most widely used therapy and showed the most positive results. Compared to DBT, there is still considerable work to be done regarding applying schema therapy (ST) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in treating patients with BPD, as there are still few trained professionals.
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