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From the Archives
August 2024
18th International Treatment of Personality Disorders Conference 1-2 November 2024 in 天美传媒 Australia. The conference theme is Working with complexity, trauma and dissociation.
Annegret Krause-Utz (Leiden, Netherlands) “Working with trauma and dissociation in the psychotherapy of complex mental health conditions”
David Muir, Christie Browne and Kris Wilson (NSW Health) "Consulting to chaos: Group reflective practice with staff in a high-secure forensic hospital"
Mikaela Tracy (UTS), Louise Sharpe (USyd), Caroline Hunt (USyd), Bo Bach (Copenhagen Denmark), "To diagnose or not to diagnose? Clinician perceptions of clinical utility and stigma in personality disorder diagnoses"
Matthew Stuckey and Dervila Gec (Monash Health) "First, do no harm: Tailoring care to manage complex consumers with recurring crises and extensive service utilisation"
This is a blended event which offers in-person attendance, virtual attendance or a combination of both and comprises three days. One day attendance is also an option:
Thursday 31 October – Lived Experience Day - consumers, carers, family members come together for inspiration, sharing and education.
Friday 1 November – Scientific Conference - presentations of new findings and approaches
Saturday 2 November – One day Clinical Workshop with Professor Annegret Krause-Utz (U Leiden, The Netherlands) on "Working with trauma and dissociation in the psychotherapy of complex mental health conditions".
October 2023
One month to go - International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders Congress 1-3 November in Sydney. With over 120 presenters, 4 keynotes, 4 workshops, student events, gala welcome and gala dinner, it promises to be an exciting face to face meeting.
On the Tuesday 31 October the day prior to Congress, ISSPD is holding an - consumers, carers, and everyone else is welcome to join this important day that features presentations, discussions, workshop activities and a closing networking event. This face to face event is in Sydney.
Just launched! The program is made up of six 30-minute modules. It is available for free and is accessible all hours and is relevant for anyone across the globe who is supporting a person with personality disorder.
May 2023
Plan to visit Sydney this November - 1-3rd November. Project Air is proud to support this important biannual global event. With over 120 scientific presentations, workshops, posters, keynote talks and plenaries, this will be the most important personality disorder event this year. It is still possible to submit late breaking abstracts and student posters. Early bird closes 5th July.
New findings just out in the scientific literature
What gets in the way of improvement in treatment? Qualitative interviews with patients reveal the importance of achieving some life stability and putting in deliberate effort to sustain engagement once therapy has started, developing therapist-client safety and trust, and working on practical goals to improve the capacity to study and work outside of therapy.
Woodbridge J, Townsend ML, Reis SL, Grenyer BFS (2023) . 10, 13.
How can we help those self-harming? This study considers the perspective on how self-harm and chronic emptiness can be improved through specific focus in psychotherapy on helping the patient observe and describe their underlying emotions without judging them.
Natividad N, Huxley E, Townsend ML, Grenyer BFS & Judy A. Pickard JA. (2023): Journal of Mental Health.
Do men with BPD have different treatment needs than women? This review considers 118 research studies and concludes that although there may be more externalising symptoms in men at first presentation to treatment, there is almost no work understanding male's treatment trajectories over time or their needs for specific focused strategies.
Qian X, Townsend ML, Tan WJ, Grenyer BFS (2022). . PLoS One. 17(12) p.1-18 : e0279015.
December 2022
Major new international conference coming November 2023 - International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders ISSPD is holding is bi-annual congress in Sydney Australia 1-3 November 2023. Visit the , register for updates and consider submitting an abstract.
Read new research on ...
An 18-week art therapy group integrated DBT skills with an additional focus on identity. Participants improved on markers of emotion regulation, and art making improved self-reflection through creativity. Having a peer with lived experience strengthened engagement.
A new rapid review updating findings on neurobiological, epigenetic and biomarker changes following treatment for BPD. Psychotherapy improves regions and networks associated with executive control, emotion regulation, self and interpersonal functioning.
The Core Conflictual Relationship Theme method is explained in this practioner guide through a clinical case of schizoid personality disorder, exploring on how narratives shared during therapy sessions facilitate greater agency, wellbeing and mastery of relationship conflicts.
explain how psychotherapy changes the brain. Filmed during the Project Air's 16th International Treatment of Personality Disorders Conference held on Friday 4th November 2022 at the University of 天美传媒.
(pdf 42kb)- People with lived experience of personality disorder (consumers and carers) who have an interest in improving care for people in the community and contributing to research are invited to express their interest in joining the Air Academy. This expression of interest is for people with lived experience living in Australia and closes 10 February.
October 2022
Mental Health Awareness: October is an important month to reflect on mental health and raising public awareness - something particularly important as we live with the global effects of the pandemic, climate change and political unrest.
Here is a small selection of some of the wonderful things being done.
- October 1 - 7 - In Australia we have - look at the campaign materials and events. ""BPD: See the person" is this year's theme stating "underneath negative or harmful coping behaviours a person can often be struggling. Let’s celebrate the person they are alongside their diagnosis, acknowledging their strengths, resilience and courage".
- October 10: . The World Health Organisation's theme is "Making Mental Health & Well-Being for All a Global Priority"
- October 1-31 is Australia's . The Mental Health Foundation Australia theme is "‘Building Resilience: Communities and Connections"
10-12 October - The European Society for the Study of Personality Disorders ESSPD will hold its 6th International Congress on Borderline Personality Disorder and Allied Disorders 2022 with the theme "Change for a better future: Perspectives beyond symptoms" - the 3-day program is set at Brussels Europe time and an online only event.
16th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders - 3-5 November 2022. The theme “Person-centred care - holding the brain in mind” provides a unique opportunity to be updated with the latest research and therapies in Australia and internationally. Note we will consider late breaking lightening talks and posters - email us at info-projectair@uow.edu.au up to October 17. We are face-to-face this year in 天美传媒 Australia - the recent host of the 2022 UCI World Road Cycling Championships - and we look forward to welcoming you to our spectacular coastal and forested environment surrounding the University of 天美传媒.
September 2022
After several years as an online conference, we would love to welcome you to the beautiful beaches and mountains surrounding the University of 天美传媒 Australia for our upcoming face-to-face meeting "Person-centred care - holding the brain in mind" : 16th International Treatment of Personality Disorders Conference 3-5 November 2022. This scientific conference day will focus on new developments in the science and practice of treatment for personality disorders.
have just been issued by the UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) on 7th September 2022. The guideline covers assessment, management and preventing recurrence for children, young people and adults who have self-harmed. It includes those with a mental health problem, neurodevelopmental disorder or learning disability and applies to all sectors that work with people who have self-harmed.
Read new research on ...
? This study followed 57 people over 12 months when they were involved in DBT group therapy for BPD. Although treatment lead to improvements, those who started with higher personal agency did better. Having an internal locus of control leads to being an active agent in change. Treatments for BPD may be improved through enhancing personal agency in the early phase of therapy.
A short 15 item scale was developed that measured self and interpersonal functioning in young people. Two main dimensions were a general factor on the integration of self-identity with other-interpersonal functioning, and a second factor that included information on aggression, reality testing and moral functioning. The short scale showed good validity in measuring severity and identifying diagnostic groups, and aligned with the ICD-11 framework.
Although participants in treatment all began with the same severity of difficulties, those who recovered in their symptoms after 12 months shared important life features: living stability, contribution to work or study, and maintaining a relationship. These findings point to the importance of therapists seeking to help patients 'to love and work' in achieving remission.
Coming to Sydney Australia next year - The International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders ISSPD will hold its 18th International Congress from the 1st to the 3rd of November 2023 in Sydney Australia. Congress will be an opportunity for world leading researchers and master clinicians to share their knowledge, students to engage with more senior colleagues and showcase their research and careers, and consumers to engage with the clinical and research world. To receive further announcements and Congress information register your interest. .
May 2022
Person-centred care - holding the brain in mind is the theme for the upcoming 16th International Treatment of Personality Disorders Conference 3-5 November 2022 to be held in 天美传媒 Australia. Every person has a unique experience of themselves, and person-centred care encourages a compassionate, individualised and tailored approach to the person's needs, goals and aspirations. Inclusive practice has the person with lived experience at the heart of decision making, supported by their health team, carers and peers. Psychological therapies for personality disorder have been shown to change brain functioning, and new science discoveries are opening an era of individualised therapy targeting brain and mind. The conference will be held over three days, with combined or separate registrations available. Thursday will be our Consumer, Family, and Carer Day; Friday will be our Scientific Conference Day, and Saturday will be our Clinical Workshop Day. on the science behind this theme.
Read new findings in the science of personality disorders
Relatives in close relationships (partners, family) with people with pathological narcissism were asked to describe everyday interpersonal interaction patterns. Interactions demonstrated high rejecting, subjugating and attacking behaviours. Relatives reported frequently detaching from their feelings and withdrawing from conflict. The risk of health services and therapists also withdrawing from people with narcissism is discussed.
Families are at the forefront of seeking help for their children who are struggling with self-harm. At times this can seem like a journey into the dark unknown, but connecting with psychiatrists, psychologists and friends is important. Ensuring practical support and validation for the whole family is a priority.
The examination of many studies across different real-world settings (N = 2,436 participants) revealed an unexpected finding: approximately half the people who receive psychotherapy for BPD do not respond to treatment regardless of therapy type or treatment length. What is missing from the literature is an understanding of what contributes to non-response. Many of the best and highest quality studies simply don't report any details about those who didn't improve - keeping us in the dark about the challenges faced by many in therapy.
Update on national and international news
- You might like to lend your support by signing an
- The European Society for the Study of Personality Disorders ESSPD will be hosting a this October
- The International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders ISSPD will be hosting the international congress in Sydney Australia in late 2023
October 2021
The theme for this year's mental health awareness month is "post pandemic recovery challenges and resilience".
has the theme "Discover creative wellbeing" and has a number of key messages and events. The week aims to encourage thinking beyond the conventional concept of 'therapy' - to consider creative therapies and explore creative ways to promote positive outcomes with a 3-pronged approach:
- For those working with people living with BPD: Thinking outside the box in terms of treatment practices and methods. How can we encourage and instil more creative thinking and ways to approach wellbeing? Encouraging expression and communication in creative ways – song writing, music, poetry, letter/journal writing and non-verbal communication such as prompt/strengths cards.
- For people experiencing the symptoms of BPD: Increase access to creative methods of expression and communication, supporting visual and audio practices, peer support, thinking outside the standard verbal therapy box.
- For supporters/carers/families: How can we encourage and instil more creative thinking and ways to approach wellbeing?
September 2021
A high level of insecurity in adult relationships at the start of therapy can lead to poorer outcomes after a year, meaning we may need to directly address these therapeutic relationship challenges.
New research found a paradox: worse self-reported cognitive performance but better objective performance - meaning providing accurate feedback may help boost engagement in treatment by putting current challenges into context.
We found those with a more fragile vulnerable narcissism were more insecure in their relationships, in contrast to those more grandiose who tended to deactivate or dismiss relationships, meaning treatments need to monitor emotional communication and be alert to varieties of relationship rejection.
August 2021
Kaleidoscope perspectives is the theme of the upcoming International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders (ISSPD) Congress this October 11-13. This is a special opportunity to connect virtually with international colleagues. The program features 14 invited symposium, four keynotes and workshops, and a master clinician presentation on DBT, MBT and TFP in action.
Read new findings in the science of personality disorders:
- is an important and difficult symptom in personality disorder which requires clinical intervention. In this paper, people with lived experience discuss their challenges and how strengthening identity, sense of purpose and vocational and relationship functioning may reduce the intensity of emptiness.
- Young people with vulnerable narcissism traits report experiencing shame, and struggle to be close to others. We report that a good working alliance and fostering self-compassion may counter some of the negative effects of shame in those most vulnerable, but dismissal in those most grandiose presents a clinical conundrum.
- with suicide risk, self-harm and emerging personality disorder. Interventions require a coordinated response that engages the young person, their caregivers, and health and school professionals.
Watch how three peer workers with lived experience of personality disorder enhance treatment. They talk about various aspects of their role including using their own lived experience, what they say to people who are newly diagnosed, how to work alongside clinicians, and share some stories of success.
- focused on working with families impacted by personality disorder (10 mins)
- focused on mental health and personality disorder (5 mins)
- focused on mental health, personality disorder and drug and alcohol challenges (9 mins)
March 2021
: Read new research highlighting the characteristics of effective online interventions for personality disorders with young people, reviewing 32 programs and 41 research studies. Reis, S., Matthews, E. L., & Grenyer, B. F. (2021). Characteristics of effective online interventions: implications for adolescents with personality disorder during a global pandemic. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 23(3).
: Watch Professor Carla Sharp's online keynote presentation at the recent Project Air 14th International Conference "This is me: How adolescence constitutes a sensitive period for the development of personality pathology." Available for three weeks only until April 23.
Student connection: The ISSPD is seeking to connect with students and young researchers - you do not need to be a member to join the conversation.
Congratulations to the Sydney Local Health District Gold Card Clinic Team - awarded a Mental Health Award of Excellence 2020 for teamwork and collaboration and a Highly Commended in the Provision of Mental Health Services Category award. Gold Card Clinics provide rapid access psychological care to people in crisis to help them start their journey to recovery. Read more about the .
October 2020
talks about the problem of stigma in BPD and the need for respect, consistency and hope in clinical services.
A on providing compassionate, recovery-oriented care.
August 2020
Read how living with a person with pathological narcissism can be challenging, including experiencing how the person goes through large fluctuations in affect, oscillating attitudes and contradictory needs. Day NJS, Townsend ML, Grenyer BFS (2020). . Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation.
What is 'emptiness' in Borderline Personality Disorder? Read our new systematic review to understand how to work with emptiness in treatment Miller CE, Townsend ML, Day NJS, Grenyer BFS (2020) PLoS ONE 15(7): e0233970.
Watch in this inspiring and helpful 4 minute video from ABC TV The Drum.
June 2020
Congratulations to all service providers during this global pandemic. We have heard of so many services locally and across the world that have transitioned online with good outcomes and strong engagement. At our recent meeting of the Project Air Academy - a group of personality disorder stepped care clinic coordinators - we heard about the wonderful work being done with individual and group therapy programs during COVID-19 physical distancing requirements. Although some participants have been reluctant, most have been able to stay connected.
Read a major new . Psychological therapies designed for BPD were superior to treatment as usual approaches, and evidence supports both behavioural (e.g. DBT) and psychodynamic (e.g. MBT) therapies. Common factors require more study, but all approaches emphasise the importance of a structured framework, good therapeutic alliance, an active therapist stance, and therapist support.
Storebø OJ, Stoffers-Winterling JM, Völlm BA, Kongerslev MT, Mattivi JT, Jørgensen MS, Faltinsen E, Todorovac A, Sales CP, Callesen HE, Lieb K, Simonsen E. Psychological therapies for people with borderline personality disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD012955.
- download a new fact sheet discussing 14 myths about BPD such as "It is better not to tell someone their diagnosis of BPD," "BPD only occurs in females," and "BPD is a lifelong mental illness and can’t be treated."
Read new findings from our laboratory:
Ng, F., Townsend, M. L., Jewell, M., Marceau, E. M., & Grenyer, B.F.S. (2020). Priorities for service improvement in personality disorder in Australia: Perspectives of consumers, carers and clinicians. Personality and Mental Health.
van Schie, C.C., Jarman, H.L., Huxley, E., Grenyer, B.F.S. (2020). Narcissistic traits in young people: understanding the role of parenting and maltreatment. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation 7, 10.
Steele, K.R., Townsend, M.L. & Grenyer, B.F.S. (2020). Parenting stress and competence in borderline personality disorder is associated with mental health, trauma history, attachment and reflective capacity. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation 7, 8.
April 2020
We are open and Project Air Strategy continues to support people with lived experience of personality disorder through our partners in health, education and research. A reminder about the extensive online resources Project Air has to support you, including e-learning, films, webinars and guidelines. Two highlights:
• Undertake our 5 hour, 5 module professional development online e-learning and get a certificate of completion: An e-learning training program for mental health workers and service providers.
• Undertake our 3-hour, 3 module An e-learning training program for adolescent mental health clinicians and school counselling service staff.
Review our online training page
See this to support work in the era of COVID-19:
• Tips for coping with coronavirus anxiety
• Maintaining your mental health during social isolation
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) anxiety and staying mentally healthy
• Official sources (reliable sources of information on COVID-19)
Watch our lived experience consultant and what she is doing on a day to day basis to manage her mental health.
Read an update on evidence-based skills and strategies for working with people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. King, R.M., Grenyer, B.F.S., Gurtman, C.G., Younan, R. (2020). A clinician's quick guide to evidence鈥恇ased approaches: Narcissistic personality disorder. Clinical Psychologist, 24, 91-95
January 2020
Focus on lived experience - developed by Project Air with A虋se-Line Baltzersen from Oslo Norway talking about her lived experience of recovery from personality disorder. She emphasises the value of getting a diagnosis, her personal turning point and fight to change, and the importance working with a therapist over time and not struggling alone.
from our laboratory that synthesises research from over 84,000 participants and provides recommendations when considering parenting within clinical practice and policy. Key areas of focus include attachment enhancement, appropriate and timely diagnosis, and provision of evidence based treatment. Steele KR, Townsend ML, Grenyer BFS (2019) Parenting and personality disorder: An overview and meta-synthesis of systematic reviews. PloS ONE, 14(10): e0223038.
2024 - 18th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders: Working with complexity, trauma and dissociation.
Keynote speaker - Dr Anne Krause-Utz from Leiden University, Netherlands
2022 - 16th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders: Person-centred care
Keynote speaker - Professor Anthony Ruocco from the University of Toronto, Canada
2021 - 15th International Conference on the Treatement of Personality disorders: Creative Recovery
Scientific Conference 5 November 2021:
Clinical Workshop 6 November 2021:
Consumer & Family Day 4 November 2021:
2020 – 14th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders: Early intervention
2019 – 13th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders: Personalising effective treatment
Professor Brin Grenyer (Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute)
Aaron Fornarino (Adelaide, Australia)
Professor Ueli Kramer (Lausanne, Switzerland)
Professor Per Hoglend (Oslo, Norway)
Lise Laporte (Montreal, Canada)
Chui-De Chiu (Chinese University of Hong Kong) Struggling back to myself: A deficit in shifting visuospatial perspectives in borderline personality disorder
Charlotte van Schie (University of Leiden - Netherlands and University of 天美传媒)
2018 – 12th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders: New ways of working with antisocial personalities and early intervention
Professor Anthony Bateman -Dr Michelle Townsend - Dr Steve Gillard - Professor Brin Grenyer -
Associate Professor Martin Sellbom - Professor Silvio Bellino & Dr Paola Bozzatello - Dr Gwenyth Francis - Dys-regulation: A therapeutic impasse management for nonresponders working relationally and trauma-informed with individuals with antisocial personality disorder
2017 – 11th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders: Understanding narcissistic personalities and other relationship complexities
Professor Elsa Ronningstam (Harvard, USA) "Understanding narcissistic personalities: what research and clinical experience teaches us"
Stephanie Leary (consumer advocate, Queensland) "My recovery from BPD: a daily journey"
Ann Bennis (carer advocate, NSW)
Professor David Winter (Hertfordshire UK)
Louise Fisher (NSW)
Shian-Ling Keng (NUS Singapore)
Renee Harvey (Sussex UK)
2016 – 10th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders: New research frontiers and discoveries
Dr Michelle Townsend -
Anne Reeve - "Lived experience: The fractious path from chaos to calm"
Professor Henry Jackson -
Professor Eric Fertuck -
Professor Eric Fertuck -
Professor Brin Grenyer -
Dr Carla Walton -
Kaye Stanton - “Borderline personality disorder and electroconvulsive therapy – A lived experience”
Susan Preece & Ben McKechnie - “A pilot study evaluating the ‘Making Sense of Borderline Personality Disorder’ psychoeducation intervention for family and carers of youth with BPD features”
Mahlie Jewell - “Successfully engaging people with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder to actively participate in research and share lived experience”
2015 – 9th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders: Inside Borderline Personality Disorder
Dr Marianne Bourke Sonia Neale Dolores Mosquera Prof Brin Grenyer Sarah Green Dr Elon Gersh Jo Lunn Alicia Wilson & Janice Wong
2014 – 8th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders: Understanding narcissistic and borderline disorders
John Feneley, NSW Mental Health Commissioner Wayne Borg & Wendy Smith Professor Brin Grenyer Professor Ken Levy Professor Robert Schweitzer Peta Welsh
2013 – 7th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders: Intervention models
Professor Russell Meares Associate Professor Shelley McMain Dr Christopher Lee Associate Professor Andrew Chanen Ms Margie Stuchbery & Dr Michael Daubney Dr Carla Walton Professor Brin Grenyer
2012 – 6th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders: Guidelines-based practice
Professor Roger Mulder
Dr Annemaree Bickerton Ms Jan Giffin Associate Professor Andrew Chanen
Professor Brin Grenyer Dr David Hawes Dr Rebekah Helyer Miss Rachel Bailey
2011 – 5th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders: Engaging carers and services
Professor John Allan Ms Janne McMahon Dr Michael Paton The challenges of working with complexity in public mental health services
Ms Jane Morton Ms Eileen McDonald Professor Brin Grenyer Ms Claudia Mendez Mr Matt Frize Ms Susan Coleman Dr Andrew Phipps
2010 – 4th International Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders: Consolidating collaboration
Professor Brin Grenyer Dr Sathya Rao Professor Kay Wilhelm Ms Tania Alexander Dr Fazeela Zolfaghari
2009 – 3rd Annual Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders
Professor Brin Grenyer Associate Professor Beth Kotze Improving public mental health services for persons with BPD: The journey continues
Dr Nick Bendit Dr Andrew Chanen Mr Chris Allan
2008 – 2nd Annual Conference on the Treatment of Personality Disorders
Professor Brin Grenyer Dr Adrian Keller Dr Nick Bendit Dr Janine Stevenson Mr Andrew Kaw