Q. I am wondering if abreaction (or "catharsis", "disappearing feelings", "focusing" or other abreactive-type approaches) figures in the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder in any way, as you know it?

I am trying to research the current use of abreaction (or feeling, and "completion" of feelings) in approaches to BPD. Any help you could give me by directing me to appropriate sources would also be much appreciated, since I am having problems finding any reference to abreaction or its affiliated approaches on the web. I am only just starting my search, and would be grateful for your suggestions - electronic, literary or telephonic.

A. I am only vaguely familiar with the role of abreaction in psychotherapy in general, and with bpd more specifically. As you know, abreaction is said to occur when a patient/client discharges repressed emotions by reliving painful experiences from the past. Therefore, this therapeutic technique has been used a great deal with patients with histories of childhood abuse. The connection to bpd may be that many patients with bpd have a history of childhood abuse themselves. However, I am not aware of any research that has focused on the role of abreaction in the treatment of borderline personality disorder.