Specialized treatment for patients with severe avoidant personality disorder: experiences from Scandinavia

TY - JOUR

T1 - Specialized treatment for patients with severe avoidant personality disorder

T2 - experiences from Scandinavia

AU - Simonsen, Sebastian

AU - Ullveit-Moe Eikenæs, Ingeborg

AU - Nørgaard, Nana Lund

AU - Normann-Eide, Eivind

AU - Juul, Sophie

AU - Wilberg, Theresa

PY - 2019/3/15

Y1 - 2019/3/15

N2 - Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) is a common and heterogeneous disorder. In spite of this, few studies have focused on treatment, and treatment guidelines have not been developed. In Scandinavian countries many patients with low levels of AvPD are treated sufficiently in private practices or in briefer psychiatric treatments, often for anxiety or depression. However, patients with higher levels of personality dysfunction are often not helped sufficiently by such treatments. In this paper we describe a longer and more intense treatment for severe AvPD based on a combination of Mentalization-Based Group Psychotherapy and Metacognitive Interpersonal Individual Therapy. This treatment has been piloted in Norway and Denmark, and we provide a case example of a successful treatment of a patient, “Julie” treated at Stolpegaard Psychotherapy Centre in Denmark. Based on our review of the literature and experiences from the pilot studies, we also provide some observations and general guidelines about important aspects of treatment of severe AvPD.

AB - Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) is a common and heterogeneous disorder. In spite of this, few studies have focused on treatment, and treatment guidelines have not been developed. In Scandinavian countries many patients with low levels of AvPD are treated sufficiently in private practices or in briefer psychiatric treatments, often for anxiety or depression. However, patients with higher levels of personality dysfunction are often not helped sufficiently by such treatments. In this paper we describe a longer and more intense treatment for severe AvPD based on a combination of Mentalization-Based Group Psychotherapy and Metacognitive Interpersonal Individual Therapy. This treatment has been piloted in Norway and Denmark, and we provide a case example of a successful treatment of a patient, “Julie” treated at Stolpegaard Psychotherapy Centre in Denmark. Based on our review of the literature and experiences from the pilot studies, we also provide some observations and general guidelines about important aspects of treatment of severe AvPD.

KW - Anxious personality

KW - Avoidant personality disorder

KW - Detached personality

KW - Mentalization

KW - Metacognition

KW - Specialized treatment

U2 - 10.1007/s10879-018-9395-x

DO - 10.1007/s10879-018-9395-x

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0022-0116

VL - 49

SP - 27

EP - 38

JO - Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy

JF - Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy

IS - 1

ER -