[Interpersonal diagnosis of personality pathology: countertransference as a source of information].

BACKGROUND

One of the defining characteristics of personality pathology is an interpersonal style that is experienced as problematic by the patient and/or others. Patients typically have little awareness of the dysfunctional effects of their interpersonal style. This represents a significant source of psychological suffering for both the patient and their social environment. Systematically recording countertransference helps both patient and psychiatrist to clarify these dysfunctional effects.

AIM: To familiarize readers with the interpersonal paradigm that underlies the recording of countertransference.

METHOD: Discussion of the interpersonal paradigm.

RESULTS

Interpersonal diagnostics and countertransference are closely intertwined.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of the interpersonal paradigm offers the psychiatrist a valuable framework to interpret countertransference reactions.