hardpsychotherapy selectionDBTEMDRCBTborderline personality disorderPTSDself-harmstaged treatment
A 34-year-old woman presents with a history of childhood sexual abuse, chronic emotional dysregulation, recurrent self-harm through cutting when distressed, unstable interpersonal relationships, and chronic feelings of emptiness. She meets DSM-5 criteria for borderline personality disorder and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder. She has been psychiatrically hospitalized three times in the past two years for self-harm. She is currently psychiatrically stable but continues to engage in self-harm approximately twice monthly. She is interested in psychotherapy and asks which approach would be most appropriate. Which of the following best describes the evidence-based rationale for psychotherapy selection in this patient?