Adaptive mentalization-based integrative therapy for severe personality disorder and mental illness: study protocol...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology
• Mental Health Services Research

Background:

• Severe Mental Illness with Personality Disorders (SMI-PD) is linked to reduced quality of life and life expectancy.
• Existing treatments for SMI-PD are often ineffective, failing to address complex patient needs.
• SMI-PD incurs significant economic costs for individuals and society.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of Adaptive Mentalization-based Integrative Therapy (AMBIT) for patients with SMI-PD.
• To determine the cost-effectiveness of AMBIT in treating this population.
• To enhance understanding of treatment needs and effects for individuals with SMI-PD.

Main Methods:

• A controlled naturalistic longitudinal cohort study involving 160 adult patients with SMI-PD.
• Data collection includes self-report questionnaires and electronic diaries (Experience Sampling Method) at baseline, 9, and 18 months.
• Assessment covers demographics, functioning, mentalizing capacity, trauma, attachment, suicidality, and resilience; qualitative interviews and therapist feedback are also included.

Main Results:

• Results are pending analysis, which will utilize intention-to-treat multilevel regression.

Conclusions:

• Findings will inform the development of more tailored and effective psychological treatments for SMI-PD.
• This research addresses a critical gap in understanding the efficacy and economic impact of AMBIT for SMI-PD patients.