Therapists' handling of patients with cluster B personality disorders in individual psychotherapy.
Individual psychotherapy is a recommended treatment of patients with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition , cluster B personality disorders. Due to their pathology, these patients represent a challenge in psychotherapy, and guidelines for practical handling exist. This study examined the attitudes of psychotherapists toward these challenges. Three hundred twenty-four experienced Norwegian therapists filled in a questionnaire on issues relevant to individual psychotherapy of patients with personality disorders. The attitudes toward cluster B patients were examined and compared with those of clusters A and C patients on contract issues, acting out, use of drugs, information to relatives, and contraindications. A considerable gap was found between therapists' attitudes toward cluster B patients and published guidelines. The therapists mostly handled cluster B in the same way as clusters A and C. Empirical investigations of therapists' handling provide an important feedback from everyday clinical practice on divergences in relation to guidelines derived from experts' consensus and research.
Narud
Kjersti
K
Department of Psychiatry, Aker University Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway. kjersti.narud@psykiatri.uio.no
Mykletun
Arnstein
A
Dahl
Alv A
AA
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011361:Professional Competence; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index