title: Mindfulness Therapy for Maladaptive Interpersonal Dependency: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: Existing treatments for maladaptive interpersonal dependency and dependent personality disorder do not meet basic scientific standards for effectiveness. The present investigation tested the efficacy of a mindfulness-based approach: mindfulness therapy for maladaptive interpersonal dependency (MT-MID). Forty-eight participants who reported consistently high levels of maladaptive dependency (i.e., scored higher than 1 standard deviation above the mean on the Interpersonal Dependency Inventory at two separate assessments) were randomized to either 5 sessions of MT-MID or a minimal contact control. Five self-reported outcomes (mindfulness, maladaptive interpersonal dependency, helplessness, fears of negative evaluation, and excessive reassurance seeking) were assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment, and a 4-week follow-up. Intent-to-treat analyses indicated that MT-MID yielded greater improvements than the control on all 5 outcomes at posttreatment (median d=1.61) and follow-up (median d=1.51). Participants assigned to MT-MID were more likely than control participants to meet criteria for clinically significant change at posttreatment (56.5% vs. 0%) and follow-up (42.9% vs. 0%). There was also evidence that increases in mindfulness mediated the dependency-related improvements. These results provide preliminary support for the efficacy of a mindfulness-based approach for treating the symptoms of maladaptive dependency.
authors.affiliation: Ohio University. Electronic address: am248310@ohio.edu.
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: McClintock
authors.affiliation: Ohio University.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Ohio University.
authors.forename: Saryn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cranston
mesh_terms: D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: dependent personality disorder; interpersonal dependency; mindfulness; mindfulness therapy; randomized controlled trial