5 - (OP30) Enhancing Romantic Competence in Women with Borderline Personality Disorder: An Adjunct Romantic Skills Training Within Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Introduction: Romantic relationships represent a central domain of functioning for women with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), yet they are frequently characterized by emotional dysregulation, interpersonal instability, fear of abandonment, and maladaptive partner selection. Although Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment for BPD, standard DBT skills training does not explicitly target competencies required for initiating and sustaining healthy romantic relationships.

Method: The present study describes a pilot intervention integrating a structured romantic competence skills training as an adjunct to standard DBT group treatment. Participants were twelve young adult women diagnosed with BPD who were receiving DBT skills training over a three-month period. All participants reported persistent romantic difficulties and expressed motivation to establish new romantic relationships. In addition to weekly DBT skills groups, participants received four additional sessions focused on romantic competence, grounded in the Insight–Mutuality–Emotion Regulation (IME) model of romantic functioning. The romantic skills modules emphasized (a) insight into personal needs, attachment patterns, and relationship goals; (b) mutuality, including perspective-taking, reciprocity, and negotiation of needs; and (c) emotion regulation strategies applied specifically to romantic contexts such as dating, rejection, jealousy, and uncertainty. Sessions were experiential and skills-based, incorporating mindfulness, values clarification, behavioral rehearsal, and decision-making tools consistent with DBT principles.

Results: Preliminary outcomes indicated improvements in participants’ perceived romantic self-efficacy, greater clarity regarding partner selection criteria, reduced endorsement of maladaptive romantic beliefs (e.g., excessive self-sacrifice to maintain a relationship), and increased confidence in managing emotions related to dating and intimacy. Qualitative feedback suggested enhanced capacity to approach romantic relationships from a position of self-respect, emotional awareness, and intentional choice rather than crisis-driven attachment behaviors.

Discussion: These findings highlight the clinical relevance of directly addressing romantic competence within DBT for women with BPD. Integrating targeted romantic skills training may strengthen functional outcomes in an area closely linked to emotional vulnerability and relapse risk. Implications for clinical practice and future controlled studies are discussed.