Transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP) is an empirically proven method of treating personality disorders that has proven its effectiveness in research. We will gradually introduce you to the main ones.
Over 20 years ago, the first three studies were conducted (Clarkin et al., 2001b, Cuevas et al., 2000, Lopez et al., 2004). These three as yet uncontrolled* studies have demonstrated significant improvements in psychopathology, self-mutilating behavior, and psychiatric hospitalizations after one year of TFP use.
* In uncontrolled studies, there are no “control” groups. That is, only patients who underwent TFP participated in the study, while in controlled studies there must necessarily be groups of patients undergoing therapy and groups who are not undergoing therapy, or groups of patients undergoing different therapies.
We present you a review of a study led by John Clarkin, the results of which were first published in 2001.
Journal of Personality Disorders, 15 (6), 487-495, 2001 © 2001 The Guilford Press
PSYCHODYNAMIC TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER: A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF BEHAVIORAL CHANGE
John F. Kennedy Clarkin, PhD, Pamela A. Foelsch, PhD, Kenneth N. Levy, PhD, James W. Hull, PhD, Jill C. Delaney, M.S.W., and Otto F. Kernberg, M.D.
Review of the article prepared Esmurzaeva Natalia commissioned by TFFP-Ukraine, scientific editorial office — Oleksiy Lemeshchuk
PSYCHODYNAMIC TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER:
PRIMARY STUDY OF BEHAVIOR CHANGE
Authors: John F. Clarkin (Ph.D.), Pamela A. Foelsch (Ph.D.), Kenneth N. Levy (Ph.D.), James W. Hull, Ph.D., Jill C. Delaney (MSW) and Otto F. Kernberg (MD).
In the article, scientists from the Institute of Personality Disorders and the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell University Medical College presented the results of their study, which aims to develop and analyze the effectiveness of a modified psychodynamic treatment, Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP), for patients with borderline personality disorder (MRO). The study involved twenty-three patients diagnosed with MRO who underwent TFP twice weekly for 12 months.
According to the results obtained, the use of TFP significantly improved the condition of patients - suicidal tendencies and self-injurious behavior were reduced. There was also a decrease in the medical risk and severity of the health of those patients who had tendencies towards self-injurious behavior and suicide attempts. In addition, in patients who underwent this treatment, there was a decrease in the number of hospitalizations and days of stay in a psychiatric hospital during the year. The elimination rate was 19.1%. All this indicates the positive effect of the use of TFP on patients with MRO.
MRO is a serious problem in mental health, affecting a significant number of patients in both outpatient and inpatient practice. Suicidal and self-injurious behaviors are especially common among this group of patients, which creates great difficulties in the treatment and management of their condition. However, the results of this study suggest that a modified psychodynamic treatment such as TFP may be an effective method for treating patients with MRO.
This study is an important step towards improving the quality of life of MRO patients and reducing suicidal and self-injurious behaviors among them.
This article was published in an American magazine Journal of Personality Disorders, 15 (6), 487-495 p., 2001.
(c) Julia Goloporova,
Ukrainian Association of Transfer-Focused Psychotherapy