Psychological interventions for children whose parent(s) have borderline personality disorder: a systematic review.

ObjectiveMethodsResultsDiscussionParents with borderline personality disorder (BPD) can present with negative parenting and parent–child dysfunctional interactions. This can adversely impact their children, leading to internalising and externalising problems. No reviews of psychological interventions for these children have been found. The present systematic review aims to identify and describe the characteristics, outcomes and evidence of psychological interventions for children of parent(s) with BPD.Five databases were searched in addition to unpublished clinical trials. Of the 2243 records screened, 24 records were identified, of which 19 were studies, reporting on 17 different psychological interventions.Most studies had low-moderate quality and were case studies/case series. More than half of the psychological interventions were multi-strategic, long-term, with mothers and their infants, and based on a psychodynamic model. Results revealed some improvements in parent, parent–child relationship and child outcomes. However, only one psychological intervention presented evidence of effectiveness.Psychological interventions for children of parent(s) with BPD are scarce and no conclusions can be made about them. To establish evidence-based psychological interventions for these children, future research should consider conducting effectiveness studies, namely large-scale randomised controlled trial studies, with strong quality, and including the fathers and older children. This systematic review could aid clinicians and researchers in treating and studying psychological interventions for this at-risk group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]