Mentalization-based psychodynamic psychotherapy for psychosis

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychotherapy
• Mental Health

Background:

• Psychotic-spectrum disorders often involve impaired self-awareness and awareness of others.
• Childhood trauma is linked to the development of psychotic symptoms.
• Understanding these impairments is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss and illustrate mentalization-based psychodynamic psychotherapy for psychotic disorders.
• To review literature on self-awareness deficits and trauma in psychosis.
• To demonstrate the utility of mentalization-based treatment in a clinical case.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on mentalization, psychosis, and trauma.
• Case study of a patient with a psychotic disorder undergoing mentalization-based treatment.
• Discussion of treatment engagement and management of enactments.

Main Results:

• Mentalization-based treatment can facilitate engagement in psychotherapy.
• This approach helps manage challenging interpersonal dynamics (enactments) in therapy.
• The case illustrates the practical application of the therapy.

Conclusions:

• Mentalization-based psychotherapy is a potentially useful adjunct for early-phase psychotic disorders.
• It complements antipsychotic medication and other evidence-based treatments.
• The therapy addresses core disturbances in self- and other-awareness.