Psychoanalysis with avoidant personality disorder: A systematic case study

This case study of process and outcome is based upon data obtained during a 5-year psychoanalysis of an adult male with avoidant personality disorder (AVPD). To date, no known systematic case studies, effectiveness studies, or randomized control trials exist for psychoanalysis in the treatment of AVPD. In this study, self-reported symptoms and observer-rated personality disorder (PD), global functioning, object relations, and psychological health were gathered at intake, after each year of treatment, and at 1-year follow-up. Process data was gathered to determine the extent to which the treatment adhered to prototypes of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and interpersonal therapy. Results indicated that the patient achieved clinically significant reductions in PD, symptom severity, and relational pathology. Gains were maintained at 1-year follow-up. The treatment significantly adhered to psychodynamic principles throughout, with some use of cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal principles in the third year of treatment. These findings warrant further investigation of psychoanalysis for AVPD and demonstrate the usefulness of assessing multiple domains of patient functioning and treatment process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).