3rd Edition

Cognitive Therapy for Personality Disorders A Guide for Clinicians

By Kate Davidson Copyright 2027
314 Pages 22 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

314 Pages 22 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Cognitive Therapy for Personality Disorders provides a thorough description of how to apply cognitive behavioural therapy to patients who are traditionally regarded as being difficult to treat, focussing on those with borderline personality disorders and antisocial personality disorders.  This revised third edition expands substantially on previous editions, incorporating new developments in... Read more

Preface

Chapter 1: Background to Personality Disorder

Chapter 2: Cognitive Models of Personality Disorder

Chapter 3: Key Characteristics of Cognitive Therapy for Personality Disorders – CBTpd

Chapter 4: Basic Structure and Style of Cognitive Therapy for Personality Disorders

Chapter 5: Arriving at a Formulation

Chapter 6: Identifying Core Beliefs

Chapter 7: Changing Core Beliefs and Distressing Mental Images

Chapter 8: Typical Behavioural Problems: Antisocial Personality Disorder

Chapter 9: Typical Behavioural Problems: Borderline Personality Disorder

Chapter 10: Monitoring Change in Therapy

Chapter 11: Ending Treatment

Chapter 12: Therapy in Action: A Case Illustration of Antisocial Personality Disorder

Chapter 13: Therapy in Action: A Case Illustration of Borderline Personality Disorder

Appendix 1 - Understanding Core Beliefs Handout

Appendix 2 - Acts of Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory

References

Biography

Kate Davidson is Honorary Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Glasgow. She has taught internationally and made extensive contributions to the fields of personality disorder and mental health. She has published numerous clinical trials across community and forensic settings, as well as research involving suicidal patients.

“The third edition of Davidson’s Cognitive Therapy for Personality Disorders is simply essential reading for psychotherapists working with people with personality development issues. It is wise, informed and readable - refreshingly free of jargon and true to its cognitive therapy roots. This is a sophisticated guide founded on psychological principles and cognitive empiricism.

As a reference text it is excellent. Davidson places her model and approach within a historical context enabling the reader to appreciate the well-established theory underlying it. Then she presents a clear delineation of contemporary PD theory and psychological management approaches.

As a treatment manual it is comprehensive and clear, outlining a well-defined therapy structure that can be adapted to patient need, whist retaining therapeutic rigour. Clinical vignettes bring it alive and add to its clarity.  The two personality presentations that are the focus of this work are those commonly associated with childhood trauma and so there is much in the book that will inform those working with survivors of developmental adversity and in that respect, it has a pan-diagnostic reach.

But Davidson has given us more than a reference book and therapy guide, it is a model of good practice. It leads with an empathic therapeutic relationship and a phased approach that recognises patient needs and strengths. Therapy is clearly formulation driven, but in Davidson’s approach the narrative formulation is especially relatable and engaging. In sum, this a much needed, well-reasoned, well-defined text, which will leave the reader feeling in safe hands.”

Helen Kennerley, D.Phil, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre, UK

 

“When I saw this book, my first thought was “It’s about time”. I have been using previous editions for over 20 years, steering my clinical work and teaching clinicians that personality disorders can be treated effectively in a reasonable time frame. And now we have an up-to-date version, showing how developments in the field have been incorporated into Kate Davidson’s already-excellent approach to cognitive therapy for eating disorders. This edition maintains the key values of this approach – keeping to CBT without losing focus, even in the face of complexity; an effective alliance; stressing the importance of behavioural change alongside the cognitive and emotional; treating the patient as an individual, monitoring and responding to progress; and so much more. Clinical experience and examples underpin this work, culminating in two extended cases to illustrate the approach. So, this book is going to join its predecessors on my bookshelf, informing my teaching, clinical work and research. That should see me through another 20 years.”

Professor Glenn Waller, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Warwick, UK