title: Metacognitive interpersonal therapy in a case of obsessive-compulsive and avoidant personality disorders.
abstract: Metacognitive interpersonal therapy (MIT) for personality disorders is aimed at both improving metacognition--the ability to understand mental statesand modulating problematic interpersonal representations while building new and adaptive ones. Attention to the therapeutic relationship is basic in MIT. Clinicians recognize any dysfunctional relationships with patients and work to achieve attunement to make the latter aware of their problematic interpersonal patterns. The authors illustrate here the case of a man suffering from obsessive-compulsive and avoidant personality disorders with dependent traits. He underwent combined individual and group therapies to (a) modulate his perfectionism, (b) prevent shifts towards avoiding responsibilities to protect himself from feared negative judgments, and (c) help him acknowledge suppressed desires. We show how treatment focused on the various dysfunctional personality aspects.
authors.affiliation: Terzo Centro di Psicoterapia Cognitiva-Associazione di Psicologia Cognitiva, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dimaggio
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicoló
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Semerari
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carcione
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003193:Compulsive Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods; D012381:Role Playing; D012649:Self Concept; D016896:Treatment Outcome