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Patients with primary or co-occurring narcissistic disorders are seen routinely in general psychiatry settings. Contemporary trends in training and practice have impacted psychiatrists' skills and confidence in identifying and treating these disorders, which can range from relatively benign to high-acuity presentations. The goal of this article is to introduce key principles derived from transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP) for use by clinicians in general practice in their work with patients with narcissistic disorders, even when those clinicians do not routinely provide individual psychotherapy. Practical application of TFP principles in work with patients with narcissistic disorders in general psychiatry are proposed, including in diagnostic evaluation, family engagement, prescribing, and safety assessment and risk management calculus. Many psychiatrists whose practices are focused primarily on psychopharmacology, or a "medical model," may not appreciate fully the impact of pathological narcissism in their work. Clinicians who may benefit from familiarity with TFP principles in work with patients with narcissistic disorders include the approximately one-half of U.S. psychiatrists who do not offer psychotherapy in their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes how the core principles and techniques of transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP) can be used in general psychiatry to help in the management of patients with borderline personality disorder (or other moderate to severe personality disorders). It focuses on: knowledge -- appreciating how an understanding of object relations assists the clinician in assessment and treatment; attitude -- developing a stance to manage the confusing and negative feelings that may arise in both clinician and patient; and skills -- describing how use of TFP techniques (technical neutrality, analysing the transference and countertransference, and judicious use of interpretation) helps the clinician to continue thinking in the fraught clinical encounter. The structural (including contemporary object relations) and structured approach in TFP are exemplified in clinical vignettes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]