A clinical approach to pharmacotherapy for personality disorders
Current Psychiatry. 2021 April;20(4):26-32 | doi:10.12788/cp.0112
April 1, 2021|Current Psychiatry
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Evidence is limited, but these principles and strategies can help guide prescribing.
Bottom Line
Although psychotherapy is the first-line treatment and no medications are FDAapproved for treating personality disorders (PDs), there has been growing interest in using psychotropic medication to treat PDs. Strategies for pharmacotherapy include targeting comorbid disorders, PD symptom dimensions, or the PD itself. Choice of medication can be based on the similarity of the PD with another disorder known to respond to medication.
Related Resources
- Correa Da Costa S, Sanches M, Soares JC. Bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder? Current Psychiatry. 2019;18(11):26-29,35-39.
- Bateman A, Gunderson J, Mulder R. Treatment of personality disorders. Lancet. 2015;385(9969):735-743.
Drug Brand Names
Aripiprazole • Abilify
Fluvoxamine • Luvox
Lamotrigine • Lamictal
Quetiapine • Seroquel
Risperidone • Risperdal
Venlafaxine • Effexor
