Schema therapy for personality disorders in older adults: a multiple-baseline study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Personality disorders are prevalent in older adults.
• No prior studies have investigated psychotherapy effectiveness for personality disorders in later life.
• Cluster C personality disorders (avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive) are common in this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of schema therapy for cluster C personality disorders in older adults.
• To assess changes in core beliefs, distress, quality of life, and diagnostic status.
• To establish a baseline for future research in geriatric psychotherapy.

Main Methods:

• A multiple-baseline design was employed with eight older adult patients (mean age 69) diagnosed with cluster C personality disorders.
• Schema therapy was administered over one year, followed by six months of follow-up sessions.
• Assessments included diagnostic interviews, symptom distress, quality of life, and schema credibility ratings.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed during schema therapy phases, with no significant changes during baseline or follow-up.
• Post-treatment scores remained stable during follow-up and were significantly lower than baseline scores, demonstrating high effect sizes.
• Seven out of eight participants achieved remission from their personality disorder diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Schema therapy is an effective treatment for cluster C personality disorders in older adults.
• This study provides the first evidence for the efficacy of psychotherapy in this population.
• Findings suggest schema therapy can significantly improve outcomes for geriatric personality disorder patients.