Comparison of brief dynamic and cognitive-behavioural therapies in avoidant personality disorder.
BACKGROUND
There is a paucity of controlled trials examining the effectiveness of individual psychotherapy in personality disorders, especially in patients with cluster C disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of brief dynamic therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy as out-patient treatment for people with avoidant personality disorder.


METHODS
Patients who met the criteria for avoidant personality disorder (n=62) were randomly assigned to 20 weekly sessions of either brief dynamic therapy (n = 23) or cognitive-behavioural therapy (n=21), or they were assigned to the waiting-list control group (n = 18). After the waiting period, patients in the control group were randomly assigned to one of the two therapies.


RESULTS
Patients who received cognitive-behavioural therapy showed significantly more improvements on a number of measures in comparison with those who had brief dynamic psychotherapy or were in the waiting-list control group. Results were maintained at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive-behavioural therapy is more effective than waiting-list control and brief dynamic therapy. Brief dynamic therapy was no better than the waiting-list control condition.
Emmelkamp
Paul M G
PM
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. P.M.G.Emmelkamp@uva.nl
Benner
Ank
A
Kuipers
Antoinette
A
Feiertag
Guus A
GA
Koster
Harrie C
HC
van Apeldoorn
Franske J
FJ
D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome