Transitional Objects, Phenomena, and Relatedness: Understanding and Working with Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder

Abstract

Transitional objects, transitional phenomena, and transitional relatedness are concepts that can be helpful both in clarifying normal aspects of development and in understanding individuals with borderline personality disorder. Valued objects of childhood and the mature interests of adulthood are useful in providing soothing comfort and feelings of self enhancement. Individuals with borderline personality disorder may use childhood transitional objects or pathologic transitional phenomena to soothe or comfort themselves. Nurse therapists can learn to both recognize these types of phenomena and apply this awareness in their therapeutic interactions to help explore traumatic past events, current insecurities, and new self-soothing methods, and thereby enhance treatment efficacy.