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Handbook of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies with Older Adults pp 187–199Cite as

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Personality Disorders in Older Adults

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Personality disorders, by DSM-IV (American Psychological Association, 1994) definition, are long-standing/stable, first evidenced in adolescence or early adulthood, and have associated pervasive difficulties in both interpersonal and impulsive functioning. Based on these criteria, it is difficult to adequately assess personality pathology in older adults for whom adolescence and early adulthood may have occurred decades ago. Additionally, several authors have argued that the diagnostic criterion for personality disorders (e.g., impulsivity in sexual and legal domains, aggression, work-related perfectionism) are more relevant for younger adults as opposed to their older adult counter-parts (Agronin & Maletta, 2000; van Alphen, Engelen, Kuin, & Derksen, 2006; Segal, Coolidge, & Rosowsky, 2000).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Jennifer S. Cheavens & Thomas R. Lynch

Authors
  1. Jennifer S. Cheavens
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  2. Thomas R. Lynch
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Stanford University, 94305-5717, Stanford, CA, USA

    Dolores Gallagher-Thompson Ph.D. ABPP

  2. University of Missouri-St. Louis, 63121, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Ann M. Steffen Ph.D

  3. Stanford University School of Medicine and Pacifi c Graduate School of Psychology, 94024, Los Atlos, CA, USA

    Larry W. Thompson Ph.D

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Cheavens, J.S., Lynch, T.R. (2008). Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Personality Disorders in Older Adults. In: Gallagher-Thompson, D., Steffen, A.M., Thompson, L.W. (eds) Handbook of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies with Older Adults. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-72007-4_12

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