TTĐA: Psychological intervention for a client with borderline personality disorder

INFORMATION ABOUT MASTER'S PROJECT

1. Student's full name:LA THU HUYEN2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: March 26, 1996 4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Student recognition decision No. 5626/QD-XHNV dated December 29, 2023 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in training process: None

7. Project title: Psychological intervention for a client with borderline personality disorder

8. Major: Clinical Psychology (applied orientation); Code: 8310402

9. Scientific instructor:

- Dr. Nguyen Thi Anh Thu, Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU.

- Associate Professor, Dr. Trinh Thi Linh, Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU.

10. Summary of project results:

The project “Psychological intervention for a client with borderline personality disorder” was implemented based on the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) model, focusing on the following goals: ensuring safety, regulating emotions, identifying and restructuring cognition, strengthening positive beliefs, developing problem-solving skills, improving social functioning/coping ability and preventing relapse.

The results showed that the client made significant progress in all three aspects of emotion - cognition - behavior. The DASS-21 and DERS scores both decreased significantly, reflecting improved ability to identify and regulate emotions. The client was more emotionally stable, accepting and flexible in using regulation techniques; negative behaviors such as self-harm, avoidance or emotional outbursts were significantly reduced. At the cognitive level, the client identified and adjusted negative thoughts and beliefs; in terms of behavior, he was more proactive at work, maintained a moderate lifestyle and improved relationships, especially with his mother.

These results confirm that CBT intervention helps reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, while strengthening self-awareness, emotional regulation, and belief restructuring – key factors in the recovery of people with borderline personality disorder. The project has value both in clinical practice and scientific evidence for the effectiveness of CBT in the therapeutic context in Vietnam.

11. Practical application:

The project results have high application value in psychotherapy, training and clinical consultation. In clinical practice, the treatment process and progress in the project can be applied when working with clients with borderline personality disorder or similar problems (psychological trauma, emotional dysregulation) at moderate to mild levels. In terms of training, the project provides a specific, systematic example of intervention planning, appropriate technique selection and evidence-based treatment effectiveness evaluation. In addition, the results can also be applied in community support activities - especially in the prevention of self-harm, enhancing emotional self-regulation skills and raising awareness of mental health.

12. Further research directions:

Further studies could extend the study to different client groups to further verify the effectiveness of CBT or CBT combined with DBT for borderline personality disorder. In addition, further studies could delve into the relationship between biological cycles – emotions – self-harming behavior in women, an aspect that was clearly demonstrated in clients in this project. The application of more objective measurement tools, such as physiological monitoring, online emotion diaries or in-depth qualitative interviews, is also a necessary research direction to more comprehensively reflect the effectiveness of treatment. Finally, long-term follow-up assessment (after 3–6 months) would help determine the level of maintenance of progress and the risk of relapse, thereby further perfecting the intervention model for client groups with similar characteristics.

13. Published works related to the project: None

INFORMATION ON PROJECT

1. Full name: LA THU HUYEN 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: March 26, 1996 4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number: 5626/QD-XHNV dated December 29, 2023, signed by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: None.

7. Official project title:Psychological intervention for a client with borderline personality disorder

8. Major: Clinical Psychology (Applied Orientation) 9. Code: 8310402.

10. Supervisors:

- Dr. Nguyen Thi Anh Thu, Faculty of Psychology, VNU - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi.

- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thi Linh, VNU - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi.

11. Summary of the findings of the project:

The project “Psychological Intervention for a Client with Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms” was conducted based on the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) model. The intervention focused on key objectives includes ensuring safety, regulating emotions, identifying and restructuring cognitions, reinforcing positive beliefs, developing problem-solving skills, improving social and coping functions, and preventing relapse.

The results demonstrated significant improvement across emotional, cognitive, and behavioral dimensions. Scores on the DASS-21 and DERS scales decreased markedly, indicating enhanced emotional awareness and regulation. The client became more emotionally stable, showed greater acceptance, and flexibly applied emotion-regulation techniques. Negative behaviors such as self-harm, avoidance, and emotional outbursts were significantly reduced. Cognitively, the client was able to identify and modify negative thoughts and beliefs; behaviorally, she became more proactive at work, maintained a balanced routine, and improved interpersonal relationships-especially with her mother.

These findings affirm that CBT-based intervention effectively reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress while strengthening self-awareness, emotional regulation, and cognitive restructuring-key factors in the recovery process for individuals with borderline personality disorder. The project therefore holds both clinical and scientific value, serving as evidence of CBT's effectiveness within the Vietnamese psychotherapeutic context.

12. Practical applicability:

The project has outcomes high applicability in psychotherapy, clinical training, and counseling. In clinical practice, the treatment protocol can be adapted for clients with borderline personality disorder or related issues (eg, trauma, emotional dysregulation) of mild to moderate severity. In education, the project provides a systematic case example of planning, applying appropriate techniques, and evaluating treatment effectiveness based on evidence. Furthermore, the findings can inform community mental health programs—especially in preventing self-harm behaviors, enhancing emotional self-regulation skills, and promoting mental health awareness.

13. Further research directions:

Future studies may expand to different client populations to further verify the effectiveness of CBT or CBT integrated with DBT in treating borderline personality disorder. Furthermore, research could explore the relationship between biological cycles, emotions, and self-harming behaviors in women—a pattern observed in this case. Applying more objective assessment tools, such as physiological tracking, online emotion diaries, or in-depth qualitative interviews, is recommended for a more comprehensive understanding of therapeutic outcomes. Finally, long-term follow-up assessments (after 3–6 months) should be conducted to evaluate the maintenance of progress and risk of relapse, thereby refining the intervention model for similar client groups.

14. Project -related publications: None.