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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Feb 5.
Published in final edited form as: Psychotherapy (Chic). 2003 Winter;40(4):251–264. doi: 10.1037/0033-3204.40.4.251

Table 1. I-BAFT Linking of Interventions to Treatment Targets.

Core BPD problems Family treatment Skills training Individual treatment
Emotion dysregulation & impulsivitya

  1. Family patterns that maintain coercive processes

  2. Invalidating communications

  3. Intense negativity

  1. Emotion regulation

  2. Distress tolerance

  3. Crisis management

  1. Identification of triggers

  2. Role of drug use in exacerbating problem

  3. Goal development
Separation/individuation struggles

  1. Family attachment

  2. Healthy individuation

  3. Age-appropriate guidance & leadership

  1. Identification & expression of needs

  1. Goal development

  2. Future planning

  3. Coaching on more adaptive interactions
Underdeveloped interpersonal skills

  1. In vivo shaping of family patterns of relating

  1. Interpersonal effectiveness skills

  2. Emotion regulation

  3. Crisis management

  1. Development of interpersonal goals

  2. Coaching on more adaptive interactions
Identity disturbance

  1. Acceptance & validating communications

  2. Age-appropriate guidance

  1. Goal setting

  1. Goal development

  2. Validation

Note. I-BAFT = integrative borderline adolescent family therapy model; BPD = borderline personality disorder.

a

Medications may also target emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, and co-occurring psychiatric disorders.