ABSTRACT
The emphasis in this chapter is on the evidence-based therapies for the treatment of personality disorders. Psychological treatments which have been developed for the treatment of personality disorders and the evidence to support these various therapeutic approaches are reviewed. In recent years a number of controlled studies have revealed that both cognitive-behavioural and structured manualized psychodynamic therapies are effective treatments, but most of these studies have been conducted with patients with borderline personality disorder. As for avoidant personality disorder, there is consistent evidence that behavioural and cognitive-behavioural approaches are beneficial and might be more effective than psychodynamic therapy. Results with respect to treatment of antisocial personality disorder are still inconclusive and it is doubtful that current interventions have much to offer to true psychopaths. Unfortunately, there are no evidence-based treatments for patients with Cluster A personality disorders, but (elements) of treatments which have been found effective in patients with psychotic disorders may also prove beneficial to patients with Cluster A disorders.
