How do art therapists act in relation to people who experience borderline personality disorder? A review of the literature

Abstract

The difficulties described by the term borderline personality disorder represent a significant clinical population. The British Association of Art Therapists has prioritised the use of research to improve the effectiveness of art therapy. Defining therapist action in relation to the condition treated is an important part of theory building for such research, but this preparatory stage has arguably been underestimated in many art therapy outcome studies. The present study therefore used a literature review to ask how art therapists act in relation to borderline personality disorder. An international search between 1980 and 2014 revealed 17 relevant studies. Data relevant to the research question were extracted from each paper, grouped thematically and developed into nine propositions that linked therapist action with the condition-specific difficulty they claimed to address. This identified a practice concerned with the process rather than the content of thought. Avoiding interpretation of unconscious symbolism, art was used to enhance joint attention in a teleologically sympathetic process of thinking together with things. This differentiated it from a number of major art therapy models. While propositions were developed, they were not tested in the present study.

Keywords:

• Art therapy
• borderline personality disorder
• theory of action
• literature review
• unique features

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 Granted this statement was in the public domain, but BAAT was unaware of its use for the purpose of the trial. An unfortunate consequence of its use was that reviewing researchers claimed ‘group art therapy does no better than standard care’ using ‘art therapy carried out in keeping with recommendations from the British Association of Art Therapists’ (Tomlin, 2012). The statement was in no way a recommendation for practice.

Additional information

Biographical details

Neil Springham is a consultant art therapist at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. He has practised in adult mental health and addictions, and now specialises in personality disorder treatment. He was a course leader at the Unit of Psychotherapeutic Studies, Goldsmiths College, co-founded the UK Art Therapy Practice Research Network and was twice elected chair of the British Association of Art Therapists. He founded ResearchNet as a network of linked service user and provider collaborative groups which use co-produced research to create change within mental health services. He recently earned a PhD in psychology. Email: [email protected]