Best Treatment Options for Borderline Personality Disorder: DBT, Therapy & More
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) affects around 1.4% of adults in the United States.¹ While many people might wonder if there’s a “go-to” treatment for BPD, the best therapy for borderline personality disorder depends on the person at hand. Various approaches work for different people, as each person’s experience with BPD can be unique.
For instance, while some people may find success with dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), others may benefit more from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or mentalization-based therapy.
Understanding the variety of treatment options can help you find a path that best suits your needs, leading to improved emotional regulation and healthier relationships. A mental health professional can talk you through the best fit for you or someone you care about.
This guide can also help, as it walks you through:
- BPD treatment and recovery information
- The three most commonly recommended therapies for BPD
- Coping strategies for someone living with BPD
- Tips on how to support someone with BPD
- How Mission Connection can help provide effective treatment for BPD
BPD Treatment and Recovery: Can It Be Cured?
Borderline Personality Disorder has often been seen as a lifelong condition, but research shows that many people improve significantly over time.² With the right treatment and support, symptoms can become much less disruptive. In fact, some eventually no longer meet the full criteria for BPD at all.
For example, researchers who studied people with BPD for more than a decade found that 78-99% of participants achieved remission (not recovery) of symptoms by the 16th year follow-up assessment.³ In other words, most people experienced long stretches when their symptoms decreased to the point that they no longer qualified for a BPD diagnosis.
However, it’s important to note that remission doesn’t always mean a permanent “cure” or full recovery, where treatment can just be stopped.⁴ Yet BPD can become a manageable part of life rather than something that defines it. Ongoing support and continued self-awareness can help maintain progress and reduce the likelihood of setbacks.
This hopeful trajectory means that with time, therapy, and healthy relationships, many people go on to work, study, care for families, and live fulfilling lives. While the BPD recovery path isn’t always straightforward, improvement is possible, and in many cases, very likely.
Treatment Options for BPD
Borderline Personality Disorder doesn’t look the same in everyone. Some people feel like emotions hit without warning. Others struggle to keep relationships steady. This is why treatment doesn’t follow one single path. Various approaches work for different needs, and sometimes it takes a combination of techniques to find what helps.
The following sections cover some of the more common approaches used in the treatment of BPD.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for BPD
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) stands out as the most researched treatment for BPD, as it’s the one with the most studied benefits.⁵ DBT therapy for BPD doesn’t just help with mood swings – it also teaches people ways to handle crisis moments and feel more in control.
DBT combines one-on-one sessions with group skills classes. It involves four main areas, which focus on:
- Mindfulness
- Distress tolerance
- Emotion regulation
- Learning how to manage relationships
These pieces fit together so that people can develop the skill of noticing feelings without jumping straight into reaction – often changing day-to-day life. It’s a core part of how DBT helps manage BPD symptoms over time.
Additionally, some research shows that DBT can even change how the brain responds to stress.⁶ For instance, practicing mindfulness seems to calm down parts of the brain that fire up when danger feels close, such as the amygdala. At the same time, other regions that help with problem-solving get stronger.
It’s believed these changes in the brain happen because DBT affects neurochemistry over time.⁷ People with BPD often have heightened levels of cortisol and irregular patterns of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which are linked to emotion regulation and impulse control.⁸ Regular DBT practice seems to help rebalance these systems and promote more stable brain chemistry.⁹
To sum it up, over months of treatment, DBT therapy for BPD can create a calmer nervous system baseline, making it easier to think clearly instead of reacting from panic or anger. This biological shift is part of why DBT therapy for BPD is so effective in the long term.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a Supporting Treatment for BPD
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) wasn’t specifically created for BPD, but it’s still a valuable supporting treatment option, especially for people who struggle with harsh inner criticism or black-and-white thinking.¹⁰ For instance, CBT teaches ways to spot and challenge thoughts that fuel shame or anger. Over time, this can help loosen the grip of old, harmful beliefs.
Therapists often blend CBT skills with DBT. For example, some might teach cognitive strategies alongside mindfulness and distress tolerance. This combination can be useful if someone needs both structure and tools to reframe thoughts.
Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) as a Supporting Treatment for BPD
In BPD, moments of stress can make it harder to read other peoples’ intentions and social cues accurately.¹¹ For instance, someone’s neutral comment can feel like a personal attack, leading to distress and conflict.
Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) focuses on something called “mentalizing,” or the ability to understand what’s going on in other people’s minds – as well as in your own. MBT helps slow down impulsive reactions by encouraging curiosity about what others might be feeling. Over time, this skill can ease conflicts and bring more stability to relationships.
However, mentalization isn’t about simply memorizing techniques. It’s about practicing awareness of someone else’s mindset – pausing before assuming the worst. This can feel strange at first, but it becomes easier with support and time. Plus, many people find that MBT becomes a bridge to therapy to improve relationships with BPD, which are often the hardest part of daily life.
Sometimes, all these borderline personality disorder therapy techniques are combined. For instance, someone might start with dialectical behavior therapy for BPD to build crisis skills, then add CBT to work on thought patterns. Later, MBT can help with understanding social cues and intentions.
Treatment doesn’t always remove every symptom, but it often means BPD becomes something that can be managed effectively – making a steady and meaningful life feel possible.
Coping Strategies for Borderline Personality Disorder
While professional advice and treatment are advised for managing BPD in healthy ways, there are a few strategies you can try at home to ease the burden on daily life, including:
- Noticing bodily cues early: Therapy for emotional regulation in BPD often starts by learning how the body feels before emotions spike. A tight chest or shaky hands can be a signal to pause.
- Keeping routines: Simple habits like a set bedtime or a short morning walk help create stability. These steady routines support BPD treatment and recovery over time.
- Using grounding techniques: Touching something cool or naming things you see can interrupt panic. These skills are part of effective treatment for BPD and can be practiced anywhere, at anytime.
- Waiting before responding: Pausing before replying to messages or making big decisions can prevent regret. This strategy is often taught in therapy to improve relationships with BPD.
- Stay curious, not critical: Whether you live with BPD or care for someone who does, curiosity helps more than blame. The benefits of therapy for borderline personality disorder grow with patience.
- Focus on small steps: A shorter argument or a moment of calm is positive progress. Coping strategies for borderline personality disorder build on small, repeated changes.
Reach Out to Mission Connection to Learn More About Treatment Options for BPD
Finding the right support for borderline personality disorder can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. At Mission Connection, our caring professionals can walk you through different treatment options for BPD, answer questions about therapy for emotional regulation, and help you decide what approach feels right for you or your loved one.
Whether you’re interested in DBT therapy for BPD, exploring other therapy techniques, or supporting someone with BPD through therapy decisions, our team is here to guide you. Recovery is possible, and taking the first step to learn more can make all the difference.
Reach out anytime to talk about effective BPD treatment for emotional dysregulation and relationship improvement. We can help you build a life that feels steady, hopeful, and connected.
FAQs About BPD Treatment and Support
1. Can Medication Help With Therapy for Emotional Regulation in BPD?
Sometimes, yes. Medicine won’t cure BPD, but it can help calm strong moods or anxiety. This can make therapy for emotional regulation in BPD easier to stick with. A doctor who understands BPD can explain if medication could help with your symptoms.
2. Are There Any New Treatments Besides DBT Therapy for BPD?
Yes, there are other options. For example, some people look into schema therapy or neurofeedback. Others try transference-focused therapy. However, dialectical behavior therapy for BPD has the most evidence base. Yet some people mix a few approaches to find what works best.
3. What Medications Should People With BPD Watch Out For?
A few medicines, like certain antidepressants or stimulants, can sometimes make moods swing more. It helps to check with a mental health professional who knows about BPD treatment and recovery before starting anything new.
4. Can BPD Go Away Without Therapy to Improve Relationships with BPD?
Symptoms might ease over time, but they often keep coming back if there’s no help. Therapy to improve relationships with BPD can teach skills for handling big feelings and avoiding the same fights or misunderstandings.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Personality disorders. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/personality-disorders
- National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK). (2009). Borderline personality disorder. British Psychological Society. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK55415/#:~:text=The%20outcome%2C%20at%20least%20in,et%20al.%2C%202003
- Zanarini, M. C., Frankenburg, F. R., Reich, D. B., & Fitzmaurice, G. (2012). Attainment and stability of sustained symptomatic remission and recovery among patients with borderline personality disorder and axis II comparison subjects: A 16-year prospective follow-up study. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 169(5), 476–483. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22737693/
- Soloff, P. H. (2021). Bridging the gap between remission and recovery in BPD: Qualitative versus quantitative perspectives. Journal of Personality Disorders, 35(1), 21–40. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9237745/
- May, J. M., Richardi, T. M., & Barth, K. S. (2016). Dialectical behavior therapy as treatment for borderline personality disorder. The Mental Health Clinician, 6(2), 62–67. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6007584/#:~:text=Dialectical%20behavior%20therapy%20is%20based,for%20the%20symptoms%20of%20BPD
- Goodman, M., Carpenter, D., Tang, C. Y., Goldstein, K. E., Avedon, J., Fernandez, N., Mascitelli, K. A., Blair, N. J., New, A. S., Triebwasser, J., Siever, L. J., & Hazlett, E. A. (2014). Dialectical behavior therapy alters emotion regulation and amygdala activity in patients with borderline personality disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 57, 108–116. https://www.pdbti.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Goodman-et-al.-2014-DBT-alters-ER-.pdf
- Iskric, A., & Barkley-Levenson, E. (2021). Neural changes in borderline personality disorder after Dialectical Behavior Therapy—A review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, Article 772081. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8718753/
- Chapman, J., Jamil, R. T., Fleisher, C., & Torrico, T. J. (2025). Borderline personality disorder. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430883/#:~:text=Individuals%20with%20BPD%20often%20experience%20intense%20and,impulsive%20behavior%2C%20including%20recurrent%20self%2Dharm%20and%20suicidality.&text=Specific%20genes%20may%20be%20involved%20with%20disruptions,cortisol%2C%20affecting%20emotional%20regulation%20and%20impulse%20control
- Schmidt, C., Soler, J., Vega, D., Nicolaou, S., Arias, L., & Pascual, J. C. (2024). How does mindfulness skills training work to improve emotion dysregulation in borderline personality disorder? Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 11(1), Article 22. https://bpded.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40479-024-00265-0#:~:text=Attention%20awareness%20is%20another%20putative,of%20the%20experience%20%5B14%5D
- Amir, N., Cobb, M., & Morrison, A. S. (2008). Threat processing in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Evidence from a modified negative priming task. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 46(6), 600–611. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1476179308000062#:~:text=rights%20and%20content-,Abstract,within%20months%20rather%20than%20years
- Roepke, S., Vater, A., Preißler, S., Heekeren, H. R., & Dziobek, I. (2012). Social cognition in borderline personality disorder. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 6, Article 195. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3543980/#:~:text=Particularly%2C%20aversive%20social%20stimuli%20and,in%20BPD%20(Figure%201)
