Eighteen months post-treatment naturalistic follow-up study of mentalization-based therapy and supportive group treatment
of borderline personality disorder: Clinical outcomes and functioning
Sammanfattning
This study presents 18 months naturalistic follow-up data from a randomized outcome study
comparing 2 years of combined (individual and group) mentalization-based treatment (MBT)
and supportive group psychotherapy (SP) for patients with borderline personality disorder.
Development during follow-up was assessed using a battery of self-report questionnaires,
Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV axis II personality disorders, (SCID-II), present state
examination (PSE) interviews, and therapist-rated Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF).
A total of 58 of 63 patients who had completed 2 years of treatment participated. Treatment
effects attained at termination were sustained at 18 months follow-up, and there were no
significant differences between the groups. Half of the patients in the MBT group met criteria for
functional remission at follow-up, compared with less than one fifth in the SP group. Three
quarters of the participants in both groups had achieved diagnostic remission, and almost half
of the patients had attained symptomatic remission on most outcome measures 18 months
after treatment termination. It is concluded that significant outcome of 2-year MBT and SP
conducted by experienced therapists in a well-organized clinic was sustained 18 months after
treatment termination.