NCT01356069

Efficacy of Time-limited Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Informed Clinical Management in BPD High MHS Users

Sequential Brief Adlerian Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in Heavy Users of a Mental Health Service With Borderline Personality Disorder: a Two Years Follow-up Preliminary Randomized Study.

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 35 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Turin, Italy · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 20 Years – 50 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Subjects affected with severe Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) are often heavy users of Mental Health Services (MHS). This study evaluates the efficacy of the addition of Sequential Brief Adlerian Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (SB-APP) to the treatment-as-usual (TAU) for BPD compared to the TAU alone for a naturalistic group of heavy MHS users with BPD. The efficacy was evaluated after at 6 time points along a two years of follow-up. Thirty-five outpatients eligible for the study were randomly assigned to two treatment groups (TAU=17; SB-APP=18). The Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and the CGI-modified (CGI-M) for BPD, the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), and the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90-R) were administered at T1, T3, T6, T12, T18, and T24. At T12 also the Working Alliance Inventory-Short Form (WAI-S) was filled-in by participants and compared between groups. In the one-year follow-up the SB-APP group did not receive any individual psychological support. MHS was specifically trained in BPD treatment and had regular supervisions. Scores of the CGI, GAF, and STAXI improved after 6 and 12 months, irrespective of treatment. SB-APP group displayed a better outcome for impulsivity, suicide attempts, chronic feelings of emptiness and disturbed relationships. The results displayed a good stabilization during follow-up year even after the interruption of psychotherapy in the SB-APP group. Even though the TAU for BPD applied to heavy MSH users displayed some efficacy in reducing symptom expression and improving global functioning, the adjunct of a specific time-limited and focused psychotherapeutic treatment reached a better outcome. In particular the possibility of a focus on patients' personality functioning (SB-APP) with a specific psychotherapeutic approach seemed to be more effective than the general support to social impairment offered by the TAU approach.

Conditions

• Heavy MHS Use
• General Psychopathology
• Working Alliance

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	SB-APP	SB-APP, derived from Brief-Adlerian Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (B-APP) is a time-limited (40 weekly sessions) psychodynamic psychotherapy based on Alfred Adler's theory and delivered in sequential and repeatable modules. SB-APP is focused specifically on four personality functioning levels (PFL). These are assessed by the therapists on the basis of symptoms, quality of interpersonal relationships, overall social behaviors, cognitive and emotional patterns, and defense mechanisms
OTHER	treatment as usual	This treatment consisted in a combination of medication, unstructured psychological support focused on socio-relational impairment and rehabilitative interventions provided by nurses and educators.

Timeline

• Start date: 2004-01-01
• Primary completion: 2008-01-01
• Completion: 2008-01-01
• First posted: 2011-05-19
• Last updated: 2011-05-19