Psychosocial functioning in personality disorders

Ueli Kramer; Chiara De Panfilis; Rasa Barkauskiene; Katja Bertsch; Joost Hutsebaut; Andres Kaera; Mariana Mendoza-Alvarez; Mickey T. Kongerslev; Babette Renneberg; Christian Schmahl; Michaela Swales

doi:10.1186/s40479-025-00326-y

Psychosocial functioning in personality disorders

Ueli Kramer^*
, Chiara De Panfilis
, Rasa Barkauskiene
, Katja Bertsch
, Joost Hutsebaut
, Andres Kaera
, Mariana Mendoza-Alvarez
, Mickey T. Kongerslev
, Babette Renneberg
, Christian Schmahl
, Michaela Swales

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

The present paper takes a broad perspective on the psychosocial functioning in adult patients with personality disorders. We start with a working definition, then we report on psychosocial functioning in personality disorders from both categorical and dimensional perspectives of personality disorder. We add a section on assessment tools which may be used in this context. We then address the question of how problematic psychosocial functioning may be addressed in psychotherapy and other treatment contexts, when it comes to supporting the person's move towards sustained recovery. We add a lived and living experience perspective to psychosocial functioning and recovery. We end with recommendations for future research in the domain of psychosocial functioning.

Original language	English
Article number	46
Number of pages	11
Journal	Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation
Volume	12
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-025-00326-y
Publication status	Published - 12 Nov 2025
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Interpersonal functioning
Occupational functioning
Personality disorders
Psychosocial functioning
Recovery
Social functioning

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10.1186/s40479-025-00326-yLicence: CC BY

Psychosocial functioning in personality disordersFinal published version, 1.07 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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AU - Barkauskiene, Rasa

AU - Bertsch, Katja

AU - Hutsebaut, Joost

AU - Kaera, Andres

AU - Mendoza-Alvarez, Mariana

AU - Kongerslev, Mickey T.

AU - Renneberg, Babette

AU - Schmahl, Christian

AU - Swales, Michaela

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Psychosocial functioning in personality disorders

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Keywords

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