General Psychiatric Management for Adults with BPD

General Psychiatric Management for Adults with Borderline Personality Disorder

Monday 16th June 2025

9.00 AM TO 4.30 PM AEDT

This workshop offers training in a treatment approach to borderline personality disorder (BPD) known as Good or General Psychiatric Management (GPM). In a large randomized control trial comparing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to GPM, a less intensive, structured and informed approach based on Gunderson’s Clinical Guide and APA Guidelines, no differences in any outcome was statistically significant across different outcomes such as symptomatic distress, suicidal behavior, functioning, and overall BPD pathology (McMain et al., 2009, 2012).

This generalist approach to managing this prevalent, disabling, and sometimes fatal but treatable diagnosis is good enough for most clinicians and most patients, and provides mental health professionals guidelines they need to become skilled providers who can derive satisfaction from treating patients with BPD. Management strategies using practicality, good sense, and flexibility are emphasized. Listening, validation, judicious self-disclosures, and advisement to build a life rather than focus on being a patient create a positive relationship in which both the concerns and limitations of a mental health professional are explicit. Techniques and interventions that facilitate the patient’s trust and willingness to become a proactive collaborator will be described. Guidelines for managing the common and usually most burdensome issues of managing suicidality and self-harm (e.g., intersession crises, threats as a call-for-help, excessive use of ER’s or hospitals) will be reviewed. Principles for the management of co-occurring disorders and medications from an evidence-based point of view are presented pragmatically. How and when psychiatrists can usefully integrate group, family, or other psychotherapies will be described.

Learning objectives:

On completion of this workshop participants will be able to:

• Explain the diagnosis to patients and families and establish reasonable expectations for change (psychoeducation)
• Manage the problem of recurrent suicidality and self-harm while limiting personal burden and professional liability by adhering to standards of care
• Identify when to prioritize BPD’s treatment and when to defer until a comorbid disorder is resolved
• Describe the management of conservative psychopharmacology when treating BPD

Prerequisite: Nil

Presenters:

Cathryn Pilcher is the Associate Director of Spectrum and an Occupational Therapist with more than 18 years’ experience in Mental Health, specialising in working with people with personality disorder. She is comprehensively trained in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and was integrally involved in setting up the first regional DBT program in Western Australia. Along with clinical and strategic leadership, Cathryn provides consultation, supervision and training, translating her experience into skills for people working with those experiencing personality disorder and co-existing conditions. On a broader note, Cathryn has a keen interest in service development in public and private health systems developing models of care, team process, capacity building and workforce development. She is a passionate advocate for embedding access to appropriate and supportive treatment options for people with personality disorder and complex trauma within services.

Associate Professor Sathya Rao is a psychiatrist and the Executive Clinical Director of Spectrum Personality Disorder Service. He is the Vice President of the Australian BPD Foundation. He is the president of Australasian Association for Research & Treatment of Personality Disorders (AART-PD) and also chairs the Committee for Professional Practice of RANZCP. In recognition of his outstanding service to Victorian Psychiatry over many years, the Victorian branch of the college of psychiatrists (RANZCP), in 2020 awarded him the ‘Meritorious Service Award’. In recognition of his contributions to psychiatry he received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) (General Division) in June 2022. He has training and backgrounds in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and psychodynamic therapies. He has been actively involved in teaching and training activities across Australia for psychiatrists, GPs and clinicians of allied health disciplines. He was the head of psychiatry training for Victoria, RANZCP. He has also held the roles of Director of Training, Director of Advanced Training (Psychotherapies and Adult Psychiatry) and a mentor for IMG psychiatrists. He was a member of BPD Guidelines Development Committee of National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC), Australia. Dr Rao has published more than 70 research papers, has contributed chapters and co-authored books on Personality Disorder.

Who should attend?

Any clinician who encounters people with BPD in the course of their work, whether a personality disorder specialist, generalist mental health clinicians, or other physician.

Cost: (payable by credit card/paypal only)

• In-Person: $250

In-person: Spectrum, Lvl 1, 110 Church Street, Richmond. A complementary lunch will be provided.

Getting to Spectrum: Spectrum is located on the corner of Church Street and Tweedie Place. Entrance is via the front of the building, to the right of the Skoda car dealership.

Public transport:

• Tram 78 on Church Street. Alight at Tweedie Pl/Church Street (Stop 63).
• Tram 109 on Victoria Parade (about a 5 min walk to 110 Church Street)
• Tram 75 on Bridge Rd (about a 7 min walk to 110 Church Street)

Car parking:

There is limited 2 & 4 hour street parking available in the area. If you are driving, please allow enough time to find parking.

All day parking is available in: All day parking is available in:

• Richmond Traders, 271 Bridge rd, Richmond – 7 minute walk ($12/day)
• 35 Elizabeth Street, Richmond – 11 minute walk ($20 a day)
• 1 Allowah Terrace, Richmond – 12 minute walk (about $26/day)

General enquiries: (03) 8413 8750 or spectrumtraining@easternhealth.org.au

Cancellation policy: If your circumstances change and you no longer can attend this event please log into your eventbrite account and cancel your ticket and request a refund no later than one (1) week prior to the event. A refund will not be issued if notification has not been received within this time frame and you will be required to pay for the event.

COVID-19 Update: To ensure a COVIDsafe event, please do not attend if you:

• Show symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, fever, runny nose, shortness of breath
• Have been recently diagnosed with COVID-19 and released from self-isolation on day 5 or day 6
• Are a close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case