Outcomes of Mentalization-Based Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder

Karolinska Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Borderline Personality Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Mentalization-based treatment

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03295838

DNR 2011/1909-31/3

Details and patient eligibility

About

The effects of a psychological treatment, Mentalization-Based Treatment, was studied using a research protocol with patients with mood swings and impulsive behavior (borderline personality disorder).

Full description

Background: Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) in borderline personality disorder (BPD) has a growing evidence base, but there is a lack of effectiveness and moderator studies. The present study examined the effectiveness of MBT in a naturalistic setting and explored psychiatric and psychological moderators of outcome. Method: Borderline and general psychiatric symptoms, suicidality, self-harm, alexithymia and self-image were measured in a group of BPD patients (n=75) receiving MBT; assessments were made at baseline, and subsequently after 6, 12 and 18 months (when treatment ended). Borderline symptoms were the primary outcome variable.

Enrollment: 75 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• To be included, BPD diagnosis was confirmed by SCID-II interview and the Zanarini Rating Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder (ZAN-BPD) interview, together with a consensus discussion between MBT therapists using DSM-IV and ICD-10 criteria. All patients referred between 2007-02-01 and 2012-05-30 were eligible for inclusion.

Exclusion criteria

• Exclusion criteria were: IQ<85, psychotic disorder other than schizotypal personality disorder, acute/temporary psychosis, previously diagnosed autism-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder type I and severe eating or substance use disorder.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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75 participants in 1 patient group

Mentalization-based Treatment

Experimental group

Description:

MBT was conducted according to the treatment manual developed by Bateman \& Fonagy. Patients were offered individual sessions with a psychotherapist and group sessions with 6-8 participants and 1-2 group therapists for 18 months. An introductory psycho-educational component (9-12 sessions) was also offered focusing on explicit mentalising skills (i.e. understanding one's own or others' intentions). Group and individual MBT focused on implicit mentalising towards self and others.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mentalization-based treatment