Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a chronic maladaptive condition carrying with it a considerable (about 500 times the national average) risk of suicide. BPD cases present a serious challenge to psychotherapeutic management. Insights gained from a survey of 30 BPD cases terminated between 1994 & 1995 are summarized as an outline of a psychotherapeutic paradigm. Mainstays of the author’s approach include Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy and Cognitive Therapy. (19 refs)