2007/06/01 by Otto F. Kernberg · 2 citations
Psychology · #Personality Disorders and Psychopathology #Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications #Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
paper · doi:10.1177/00030651070550020701
crossref issued 2007/06/01 · crossref published 2007/06/01 · crossref published-online 2007/06/01 · crossref published-print 2007/06/01 · openalex publication_date 2007/06/01 · crossref created 2012/11/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref deposited 2026/04/28 · crossref indexed 2026/07/28 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Clinical experience in the Personality Disorders Institute at Weill Cornell Medical College suggests that patients with borderline personality organization and a narcissistic personality disorder have a more serious prognosis than all other personality disorders functioning at the borderline level, and that those who in addition present significant antisocial behavior have an even worse prognosis (Clarkin, Yeomans, and Kernberg 1999; Stone 1990). This negative trend culminates in a group of practically untreatable patients with antisocial personality disorder, who represent the most severe cases of pathological narcissism. There are also patients with severe narcissistic personality disorder, functioning at an overt borderline level with significant antisocial features, but not presenting an antisocial personality disorder proper, who at times respond to treatment, while others do not. These patients are explored here, with a focus on particular psychotherapeutic techniques that have proven helpful, as well as on the limits of these technical approaches.