Why short-term psychotherapy for borderlines?

This paper outlines general concepts for the utilization of short-term integrative psychotherapy for borderline personalities. It attempts to understand the rationale underlying the application of this therapeutic technique. In arriving at this understanding, consideration should be given to: (1) the technical aspects specific to the briefer procedures such as: time, acceptability, expectations, therapist's activity, focused approach, therapist as a real person, emphasis on patient's determination, withdrawal and regression, and (2) the particular symptomatic and characterological manifestations of this patient population such as: autonomy, relationships, structure and controls, choice, engulfment drives, fantasied universe, reality and ego functions.