Professionally indicated short-term risk-taking in the treatment of borderline personality disorder

Objective: To define and explore the rationale for professionally indicated short-term risk-taking in treating adults with borderline personality disorder, and discuss prerequisites for the approach, clinical implementation and medicolegal contexts.Conclusion: When prerequisites are met and clinical and medicolegal practice is sound and thorough, taking short-term risk, as part of a comprehensive treatment, is a legitimate professional consideration in working with some adults with borderline personality disorder.