Analytically oriented psychotherapy in schizotypal and borderline patients: at the border of treatability

Abstract

Analytically oriented psychotherapy (AOP) has been considered the treatment of choice for borderline patients and a useful technique in the treatment of schizotypal patients. There are many exceptions, however, in addition to a number of borderline and schizotypal patients who are just barely amenable to this modality: they are at the border of treatability by AOP. Limitations relating to time, cost, and the availability of therapists trained in this discipline render it important to delineate the factors which conduce either to the success or failure of AOP. From the author's clinical impressions about borderline and schizotypal patients at the border of treatability by AOP, a number of such factors emerge. On the positive side: likeableness, autoplastic defenses, high motivation, psychological-mindedness, genuine concern, good moral sense, self-discipline, and low impulsivity. Negative factors include, beside the opposites to the aforementioned, vengefulness and parental abusiveness or exploitation. A scale for measuring the balance between these positive and negative factors is proposed. Its use may, it is hoped, improve forecast, during initial consultation, as to which borderline and schizotypal patients will respond favorably to AOP.