
Cognitive Therapy for Personality Disorders
A Guide for Clinicians
Kate Davidson(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
3rd Edition
Will be published approx. on 24. August 2026
Book
Hardback
248 pages
978-1-041-08569-0 (ISBN)
Description
Cognitive Therapy for Personality Disorders provides a thorough description of how to apply cognitive behavioural therapy to patients who are traditionally regarded as being difficult to treat, focusing on those with borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.
This revised third edition expands substantially on previous editions, incorporating new developments in theory and practice in the field. It provides a comprehensive and authoritative guide to applying CBTpd, including clinical vignettes to illustrate how the therapy is applied. CBTpd takes a developmental perspective as childhood trauma and adversity are frequently associated with these disorders. This edition is informed by decades of training clinicians in the UK and internationally, responding to the challenges they commonly encounter in working with patients with personality disorders. The new edition provides clinicians with clear and detailed examples of how to manage complex problems, including how to develop a narrative formulation that takes a developmental perspective, as well as guidance on other challenges such as managing the therapeutic relationship whilst keeping therapy focused and the patient engaged in therapy.
This guide will be essential reading for psychiatrists, clinical and counselling psychologists, therapists, mental health nurses, and trainees in CBT.
This revised third edition expands substantially on previous editions, incorporating new developments in theory and practice in the field. It provides a comprehensive and authoritative guide to applying CBTpd, including clinical vignettes to illustrate how the therapy is applied. CBTpd takes a developmental perspective as childhood trauma and adversity are frequently associated with these disorders. This edition is informed by decades of training clinicians in the UK and internationally, responding to the challenges they commonly encounter in working with patients with personality disorders. The new edition provides clinicians with clear and detailed examples of how to manage complex problems, including how to develop a narrative formulation that takes a developmental perspective, as well as guidance on other challenges such as managing the therapeutic relationship whilst keeping therapy focused and the patient engaged in therapy.
This guide will be essential reading for psychiatrists, clinical and counselling psychologists, therapists, mental health nurses, and trainees in CBT.
Reviews / Votes
"The third edition of Davidson's Cognitive Therapy for Personality Disorders is simply essential reading for psychotherapists working with people with personality development issues. It is wise, informed and readable - refreshingly free of jargon and true to its cognitive therapy roots. This is a sophisticated guide founded on psychological principles and cognitive empiricism.As a reference text it is excellent. Davidson places her model and approach within a historical context enabling the reader to appreciate the well-established theory underlying it. Then she presents a clear delineation of contemporary PD theory and psychological management approaches.
As a treatment manual it is comprehensive and clear, outlining a well-defined therapy structure that can be adapted to patient need, whist retaining therapeutic rigour. Clinical vignettes bring it alive and add to its clarity. The two personality presentations that are the focus of this work are those commonly associated with childhood trauma and so there is much in the book that will inform those working with survivors of developmental adversity and in that respect, it has a pan-diagnostic reach.
But Davidson has given us more than a reference book and therapy guide, it is a model of good practice. It leads with an empathic therapeutic relationship and a phased approach that recognises patient needs and strengths. Therapy is clearly formulation driven, but in Davidson's approach the narrative formulation is especially relatable and engaging. In sum, this a much needed, well-reasoned, well-defined text, which will leave the reader feeling in safe hands."
Helen Kennerley, D.Phil, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre, UK
"When I saw this book, my first thought was "It's about time". I have been using previous editions for over 20 years, steering my clinical work and teaching clinicians that personality disorders can be treated effectively in a reasonable time frame. And now we have an up-to-date version, showing how developments in the field have been incorporated into Kate Davidson's already-excellent approach to cognitive therapy for eating disorders. This edition maintains the key values of this approach - keeping to CBT without losing focus, even in the face of complexity; an effective alliance; stressing the importance of behavioural change alongside the cognitive and emotional; treating the patient as an individual, monitoring and responding to progress; and so much more. Clinical experience and examples underpin this work, culminating in two extended cases to illustrate the approach. So, this book is going to join its predecessors on my bookshelf, informing my teaching, clinical work and research. That should see me through another 20 years."
Professor Glenn Waller, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Warwick, UK
More details
Edition
3rd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Postgraduate, Professional Practice & Development, Professional Reference, and Professional Training
Illustrations
22 s/w Zeichnungen, 19 s/w Tabellen, 22 s/w Abbildungen
19 Tables, black and white; 22 Line drawings, black and white; 22 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-041-08569-0 (9781041085690)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
approx. 08/2026
3rd Edition
Routledge
€45.99
Not yet available

Book
approx. 08/2026
3rd Edition
Routledge
€43.50
Not yet published

E-Book
approx. 08/2026
3rd Edition
Routledge
€45.99
Not yet available
Previous edition

Book
09/2007
2nd Edition
Routledge
€178.27
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Kate Davidson is Honorary Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Glasgow. She has taught internationally and made extensive contributions to the fields of personality disorder and mental health. She has carried out numerous clinical trials across community and forensic settings, as well as research involving suicidal patients.
Content
Preface
Chapter 1: Background to Personality Disorder
Chapter 2: Cognitive Models of Personality Disorder
Chapter 3: Key Characteristics of Cognitive Therapy for Personality Disorders: CBTpd
Chapter 4: Basic Structure and Style of Cognitive Therapy for Personality Disorders
Chapter 5: Arriving at a Formulation
Chapter 6: Identifying Core Beliefs
Chapter 7: Changing Core Beliefs and Distressing Mental Images
Chapter 8: Typical Behavioural Problems: Antisocial Personality Disorder
Chapter 9: Typical Behavioural Problems: Borderline Personality Disorder
Chapter 10: Monitoring Change in Therapy
Chapter 11: Ending Treatment
Chapter 12: Therapy in Action: A Case Illustration of Antisocial Personality Disorder
Chapter 13: Therapy in Action: A Case Illustration of Borderline Personality Disorder
Appendix 1 - Understanding Core Beliefs Handout
Appendix 2 - Acts of Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory
References
Chapter 1: Background to Personality Disorder
Chapter 2: Cognitive Models of Personality Disorder
Chapter 3: Key Characteristics of Cognitive Therapy for Personality Disorders: CBTpd
Chapter 4: Basic Structure and Style of Cognitive Therapy for Personality Disorders
Chapter 5: Arriving at a Formulation
Chapter 6: Identifying Core Beliefs
Chapter 7: Changing Core Beliefs and Distressing Mental Images
Chapter 8: Typical Behavioural Problems: Antisocial Personality Disorder
Chapter 9: Typical Behavioural Problems: Borderline Personality Disorder
Chapter 10: Monitoring Change in Therapy
Chapter 11: Ending Treatment
Chapter 12: Therapy in Action: A Case Illustration of Antisocial Personality Disorder
Chapter 13: Therapy in Action: A Case Illustration of Borderline Personality Disorder
Appendix 1 - Understanding Core Beliefs Handout
Appendix 2 - Acts of Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory
References