Adaptive institutional transference in the treatment of individuals with borderline personality disorder.

The author introduces "adaptive institutional transference" (AIT) and describes how it develops in some patients in response to psychotherapist transfer in psychology training clinics. Individuals with borderline personality disorder are especially likely to develop AIT because of difficulties related to abandonment depression. Directors, supervisors, and student psychotherapists in a variety of training settings should be aware of these dynamics because of their important treatment implications, which are described. Limitations and ideas for future exploratory and qualitative research are also discussed.