Charles H. Elliott, PhD, and Laura L. Smith, PhD, are clinical psychologists who specialize in training mental health professionals in the treatment of adolescents and adults with personality disorders, as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, anger, and depression. They are the coauthors of Depression For Dummies, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder For Dummies, and Overcoming Anxiety For Dummies.

Introduction. Part I: Mapping the Boundaries of Borderline Personality Disorder. Chapter 1: Exploring Borderline Personality Disorder. Chapter 2: Defi ning Personality to Understand BPD. Chapter 3: Describing BPD. Chapter 4: Who Gets BPD and Why? Part II: Taking Note of the Major BPD Symptoms. Chapter 5: Sensation Seeking and Self-Harm: The Impulsivity of BPD. Chapter 6: Explosive Feelings and Moods. Chapter 7: Missing Persons: Identity Problems and BPD. Chapter 8: Perceiving, Understanding, and Relating to Others. Chapter 9: BPD and Extreme Thinking. Chapter 10: Slipping Away from Reality. Part III: Making the Choice to Change. Chapter 11: Preparing to Conquer BPD. Chapter 12: Breaking Through Barriers to Change. Chapter 13: Explaining BPD to Others. Chapter 14: Taking Care of Yourself. Part IV: Treatments for BPD. Chapter 15: Inhibiting Impulsivity. Chapter 16: Calming the Storms Within. Chapter 17: Creating an Identity. Chapter 18: Putting Yourself in Other People's Shoes. Chapter 19: Finding Shades of Gray: Changing Problematic Core Beliefs. Chapter 20: Considering Medication for BPD. Part V: Advice for People Who Care. Chapter 21: What to Do When Your Partner Has BPD. Chapter 22: Befriending People with BPD. Chapter 23: Parenting Children at Risk for BPD. Chapter 24: Advice for Adult Children of BPD Parents. Chapter 25: Advice for Therapists of People with BPD. Part VI: The Part of Tens. Chapter 26: Ten Quick Ways to Settle Down. Chapter 27: Ten Ways to Say You're Sorry. Chapter 28: Ten Things You Shouldn't Do. Part VII: Appendixes. Appendix A: Resources for You. Appendix B: Forms to Help You Battle BPD. Index.