title: A psychoanalytically informed hospitalization-based treatment of personality disorders.
abstract: This study presents a model of psychic change in personality disorders focusing on three dimensions: felt safety, mentalization and self-object relations. Based upon this model a hospitalization-based therapy program was created. Four scales to measure these three dimensions on the Object Relation Interview are discussed: the Felt Safety Scale, the Reflective Functioning Scale and the Bion Grid Scale and the Differentiation-Relatedness Scale. A naturalistic symptom outcome study of the program showed a large effect on both symptoms and personality functioning. Furthermore, trajectory based on pre-treatment patient characteristics (i.e., anaclitic versus introjective personality styles). Importantly, we also found a relation between symptomatic and personality change and change in felt safety and object relations. At 5-year follow-up, patients showed sustained improvement in symptomatic distress and further improvement in terms of personality and interpersonal functioning.
authors.affiliation: University Psychiatric Center Kuleuven, Leuvensesteenweg 517, 3070, Kortenberg, Belgium. rudi.vermote@upckuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Rudi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vermote
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luyten
authors.affiliation: University Psychiatric Center Kuleuven, Leuvensesteenweg 517, 3070, Kortenberg, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yannic
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Verhaest
authors.affiliation: University Psychiatric Center Kuleuven, Leuvensesteenweg 517, 3070, Kortenberg, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vandeneede
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vertommen
authors.affiliation: University Psychiatric Center Kuleuven, Leuvensesteenweg 517, 3070, Kortenberg, Belgium.
authors.forename: Benedicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lowyck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Psychoanalyis; change; outcome; personality disorders