Borderline personality and alcohol abuse.

Borderline personality is related to the separation-individuation process and continues in a distinct dysfunctional family pattern. Alcoholism is also transmitted in families. These are two separate conditions that occur independently on one another. However, they both manifest similar pathologic ego-defense mechanisms and they frequently occur together making differential diagnoses difficult but academic. When traditional Alcoholic Anonymous (A.A.) treatment is employed, considerable improvement can be made in these pathologic ego-defenses. This treatment modality can be used in psychotherapy, family therapy, group therapy, or traditional A.A. meetings.