Evaluating "mentalizing positive affect" as an intervention for enhancing positive affectivity in borderline personality disorder using a single-case multiple-baseline design

Tine S D Harpøth; Mickey T Kongerslev; Mariola Moeyaert; Sune Bo; Anthony W Bateman; Erik Simonsen

doi:10.1037/pst0000251

Evaluating "mentalizing positive affect" as an intervention for enhancing positive affectivity in borderline personality disorder using a single-case multiple-baseline design

Tine S D Harpøth, Mickey T Kongerslev, Mariola Moeyaert, Sune Bo, Anthony W Bateman, Erik Simonsen

Department of Clinical Medicine

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Evidence-based treatments for borderline personality disorder (BPD), including mentalization-based treatment (MBT), have not adequately examined changes in positive affect (PA) in the treatment of BPD. Therefore, we developed a new intervention, “mentalizing positive affect,” and evaluated its effect on PA, negative affect, BPD severity, ego-resiliency, and quality of life during MBT treatment for BPD. In a single-case multiple-baseline design, 4 female BPD patients received 6 months of individual MBT, after which they were followed up for 2 months. Intensive repeated measurements data were subjected to hierarchical linear modeling to analyze whether the positive intervention was related to changes in self-reported outcome measures. Our results failed to support a co-occurring increase in the reporting of PA related to the “mentalizing positive affect” intervention. However, the slope of PA increased at a quicker rate after the end of treatment, perhaps indicating a delayed treatment effect. “Mentalizing positive affect” was related to a marginally significant decrease in the mean level of BPD severity compared with standard MBT. Moreover, focusing on PA in MBT seemed feasible for maintaining a good working alliance. Our findings call for more research to test interventions aimed at enhancing PA in the treatment of BPD. Such efforts might well involve treatment of longer duration and higher intensity to increase the number of sessions, as well as longer follow-up periods, than we used. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)Clinical Impact Statement—Question: Is the intervention “mentalizing positive affect” associated to increases in positive affect (PA) during 6 months of individual mentalization-based treatment for borderline personality disorder? Findings: This single-case study indicated that the intervention was unrelated to a co-occurring increase in PA during treatment; however, PA began to rise during follow-up, perhaps indicating a delayed treatment effect. Meaning: Results could indicate the need for a higher treatment dosage and/or longer treatment time. Next steps: Further research should incorporate measures of PA intervention studies and test interventions aimed at enhancing PA in treatment for borderline personality disorder.

Original language	English
Journal	Psychotherapy
ISSN	0033-3204
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000251
Publication status	Published - 2020

Access to Document

10.1037/pst0000251

Cite this

@article{26a811ded89a46ee9891a290e528abe5,

title = "Evaluating {"}mentalizing positive affect{"} as an intervention for enhancing positive affectivity in borderline personality disorder using a single-case multiple-baseline design",

abstract = "Evidence-based treatments for borderline personality disorder (BPD), including mentalization-based treatment (MBT), have not adequately examined changes in positive affect (PA) in the treatment of BPD. Therefore, we developed a new intervention, “mentalizing positive affect,” and evaluated its effect on PA, negative affect, BPD severity, ego-resiliency, and quality of life during MBT treatment for BPD. In a single-case multiple-baseline design, 4 female BPD patients received 6 months of individual MBT, after which they were followed up for 2 months. Intensive repeated measurements data were subjected to hierarchical linear modeling to analyze whether the positive intervention was related to changes in self-reported outcome measures. Our results failed to support a co-occurring increase in the reporting of PA related to the “mentalizing positive affect” intervention. However, the slope of PA increased at a quicker rate after the end of treatment, perhaps indicating a delayed treatment effect. “Mentalizing positive affect” was related to a marginally significant decrease in the mean level of BPD severity compared with standard MBT. Moreover, focusing on PA in MBT seemed feasible for maintaining a good working alliance. Our findings call for more research to test interventions aimed at enhancing PA in the treatment of BPD. Such efforts might well involve treatment of longer duration and higher intensity to increase the number of sessions, as well as longer follow-up periods, than we used. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)Clinical Impact Statement—Question: Is the intervention “mentalizing positive affect” associated to increases in positive affect (PA) during 6 months of individual mentalization-based treatment for borderline personality disorder? Findings: This single-case study indicated that the intervention was unrelated to a co-occurring increase in PA during treatment; however, PA began to rise during follow-up, perhaps indicating a delayed treatment effect. Meaning: Results could indicate the need for a higher treatment dosage and/or longer treatment time. Next steps: Further research should incorporate measures of PA intervention studies and test interventions aimed at enhancing PA in treatment for borderline personality disorder.",

author = "Harp{\o}th, {Tine S D} and Kongerslev, {Mickey T} and Mariola Moeyaert and Sune Bo and Bateman, {Anthony W} and Erik Simonsen",

year = "2020",

doi = "10.1037/pst0000251",

language = "English",

journal = "Psychotherapy",

issn = "0033-3204",

publisher = "American Psychological Association",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluating "mentalizing positive affect" as an intervention for enhancing positive affectivity in borderline personality disorder using a single-case multiple-baseline design

AU - Harpøth, Tine S D

AU - Kongerslev, Mickey T

AU - Moeyaert, Mariola

AU - Bo, Sune

AU - Bateman, Anthony W

AU - Simonsen, Erik

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Evidence-based treatments for borderline personality disorder (BPD), including mentalization-based treatment (MBT), have not adequately examined changes in positive affect (PA) in the treatment of BPD. Therefore, we developed a new intervention, “mentalizing positive affect,” and evaluated its effect on PA, negative affect, BPD severity, ego-resiliency, and quality of life during MBT treatment for BPD. In a single-case multiple-baseline design, 4 female BPD patients received 6 months of individual MBT, after which they were followed up for 2 months. Intensive repeated measurements data were subjected to hierarchical linear modeling to analyze whether the positive intervention was related to changes in self-reported outcome measures. Our results failed to support a co-occurring increase in the reporting of PA related to the “mentalizing positive affect” intervention. However, the slope of PA increased at a quicker rate after the end of treatment, perhaps indicating a delayed treatment effect. “Mentalizing positive affect” was related to a marginally significant decrease in the mean level of BPD severity compared with standard MBT. Moreover, focusing on PA in MBT seemed feasible for maintaining a good working alliance. Our findings call for more research to test interventions aimed at enhancing PA in the treatment of BPD. Such efforts might well involve treatment of longer duration and higher intensity to increase the number of sessions, as well as longer follow-up periods, than we used. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)Clinical Impact Statement—Question: Is the intervention “mentalizing positive affect” associated to increases in positive affect (PA) during 6 months of individual mentalization-based treatment for borderline personality disorder? Findings: This single-case study indicated that the intervention was unrelated to a co-occurring increase in PA during treatment; however, PA began to rise during follow-up, perhaps indicating a delayed treatment effect. Meaning: Results could indicate the need for a higher treatment dosage and/or longer treatment time. Next steps: Further research should incorporate measures of PA intervention studies and test interventions aimed at enhancing PA in treatment for borderline personality disorder.

AB - Evidence-based treatments for borderline personality disorder (BPD), including mentalization-based treatment (MBT), have not adequately examined changes in positive affect (PA) in the treatment of BPD. Therefore, we developed a new intervention, “mentalizing positive affect,” and evaluated its effect on PA, negative affect, BPD severity, ego-resiliency, and quality of life during MBT treatment for BPD. In a single-case multiple-baseline design, 4 female BPD patients received 6 months of individual MBT, after which they were followed up for 2 months. Intensive repeated measurements data were subjected to hierarchical linear modeling to analyze whether the positive intervention was related to changes in self-reported outcome measures. Our results failed to support a co-occurring increase in the reporting of PA related to the “mentalizing positive affect” intervention. However, the slope of PA increased at a quicker rate after the end of treatment, perhaps indicating a delayed treatment effect. “Mentalizing positive affect” was related to a marginally significant decrease in the mean level of BPD severity compared with standard MBT. Moreover, focusing on PA in MBT seemed feasible for maintaining a good working alliance. Our findings call for more research to test interventions aimed at enhancing PA in the treatment of BPD. Such efforts might well involve treatment of longer duration and higher intensity to increase the number of sessions, as well as longer follow-up periods, than we used. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)Clinical Impact Statement—Question: Is the intervention “mentalizing positive affect” associated to increases in positive affect (PA) during 6 months of individual mentalization-based treatment for borderline personality disorder? Findings: This single-case study indicated that the intervention was unrelated to a co-occurring increase in PA during treatment; however, PA began to rise during follow-up, perhaps indicating a delayed treatment effect. Meaning: Results could indicate the need for a higher treatment dosage and/or longer treatment time. Next steps: Further research should incorporate measures of PA intervention studies and test interventions aimed at enhancing PA in treatment for borderline personality disorder.

U2 - 10.1037/pst0000251

DO - 10.1037/pst0000251

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31393151

SN - 0033-3204

JO - Psychotherapy

JF - Psychotherapy

ER -

Evaluating "mentalizing positive affect" as an intervention for enhancing positive affectivity in borderline personality disorder using a single-case multiple-baseline design

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this