title: Psychoanalytic-Interactional Therapy versus Psychodynamic Therapy by Experts for Personality Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Efficacy-Effectiveness Study in Cluster B Personality Disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With regard to cluster B personality disorders, most psychotherapeutic treatments focus on borderline personality disorder. Evidence-based treatments for patients with other cluster B personality disorders are not yet available. Psychoanalytic-interactional therapy (PIT) represents a transdiagnostic treatment for severe personality disorders. PIT has been applied in clinical practice for many years and has proven effective in open studies. In a randomized controlled trial, we compared manual-guided PIT to nonmanualized pychodynamic therapy by experts in personality disorders (E-PDT) in patients with cluster B personality disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an inpatient setting, patients with cluster B personality disorders were randomly assigned to manual-guided PIT (n = 64) or nonmanualized E-PDT (n = 58). In addition, a quasi-experimental control condition was used (n = 46) including both patients receiving treatment as usual and patients waiting for treatment. Primary outcomes were level of personality organization and overall psychological distress. As secondary outcomes, depression, anxiety and interpersonal problems were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant improvements were found in the control patients. Both PIT and E-PDT achieved significant improvements in all outcome measures and were superior to the control condition. No differences were found between PIT and E-PDT in any outcome measure at the end of treatment. The type of cluster B personality disorder had no impact on the results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In an inpatient setting, both PIT and E-PDT proved to be superior to a control condition in cluster B personality disorders. In a head-to-head comparison, both treatments appeared to be equally effective. Further research on the treatment of cluster B personality disorders is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychsomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Falk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leichsenring
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Masuhr
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jaeger
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rabung
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dally
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dümpelmann
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fricke-Neef
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steinert
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Streeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome