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Published on: March 8, 2018
A psychoanalytically informed hospitalization-based treatment of personality disorders
Rudi Vermote1, Patrick Luyten2, Yannic Verhaest3
1University Psychiatric Center Kuleuven, Leuvensesteenweg 517, 3070, Kortenberg, Belgium. rudi.vermote@upckuleuven.be.
Abstract:
This study presents a model of psychic change in personality disorders focusing on three dimensions: felt safety, mentalization and self-object relations. Based upon this model a hospitalization-based therapy program was created. Four scales to measure these three dimensions on the Object Relation Interview are discussed: the Felt Safety Scale, the Reflective Functioning Scale and the Bion Grid Scale and the Differentiation-Relatedness Scale. A naturalistic symptom outcome study of the program showed a large effect on both symptoms and personality functioning. Furthermore, trajectory based on pre-treatment patient characteristics (i.e., anaclitic versus introjective personality styles). Importantly, we also found a relation between symptomatic and personality change and change in felt safety and object relations. At 5-year follow-up, patients showed sustained improvement in symptomatic distress and further improvement in terms of personality and interpersonal functioning.
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