Outcome of mentalization-based and supportive psychotherapy in patients with borderline personality disorder: a randomized trial
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 08/20/2012
Jorgensen CR et al. – The study indicates that both mentalization–based psychotherapy (MBT) and supportive treatment are highly effective in treating borderline personality disorder (BPD) when conducted by a well–trained and experienced psychodynamic staff in a well–organized clinic.
Methods- Eighty-five SCID-II diagnosed borderline patients were randomized to either 2years of intensive (twice weekly) combined (individual and group), mentalization-based psychotherapy (MBT) or 2years of less-intensive (biweekly) supportive group therapy.
- Treatment outcome was assessed using a battery of self-report questionnaires, SCID-II interviews and therapist-rated global assessment of functioning (GAF).
- Fifty-eight patients completed 2years of treatment.
- Significant changes in both treatment groups were identified for several outcome measures, including self-reported measures of general functioning, depression, social functioning and number of diagnostic criteria met for BPD, as outlined by the SCID-II interview.
- General linear modelling was used to compare treatment outcome in the two groups.
- Only GAF showed a significantly higher outcome in the MBT group.
- A trend was found for a higher rate of recovery from BPD in the MBT group.
- Pre-post effect sizes were high (0.5–2.1) and for the most part highly significant in both groups.
