1
|
Malas O, Gómez-Domenech A. Effect of Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Negative Affect, and Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder during COVID-19 Pandemic. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2603. [PMID: 38731131 PMCID: PMC11084774 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: This study investigated the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) during the COVID-19 pandemic, assessing negative affect, depression, and anxiety levels as indicators of health. Methods: A total of 287 participants were recruited, including BPD patients at different stages of treatment and the general population without a diagnosis of BPD. Questionnaires were used to assess the fear of COVID-19 and the referenced health indicators. Results: No differences were observed between groups in levels of fear of COVID-19, but there were differences in the health indicators studied. BPD patients in long-term treatment showed levels of negative affect similar to those of the general population, while those in early treatment stages exhibited significantly higher levels. However, no significant improvements were observed in levels of depression and anxiety in the long-term treatment group compared to those who underwent the initial treatment phase. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of effectively intervening in BPD, especially in stress-inducing situations such as the pandemic, and suggest the need to explore complementary approaches to addressing depression and anxiety in this clinical context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga Malas
- Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work, University of Lleida, 25001 Lleida, Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
von Below C, Bergsten J, Midbris T, Philips B, Werbart A. It turned into something else: patients' long-term experiences of transitions to or from telepsychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1142233. [PMID: 37251023 PMCID: PMC10213395 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1142233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The shift from in-person therapy to telepsychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic was unprepared for, sudden, and inevitable. This study explored patients' long-term experiences of transitions to telepsychotherapy and back to the office. Methods Data were collected approximately two years after the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic. Eleven patients were interviewed (nine women and two men, aged 28 to 56, six in psychodynamic psychotherapy, five in CBT). Treatments switched between in-person and video/telephone sessions. Interview transcripts were analyzed applying the qualitative methodology of inductive thematic analysis. Results (1) The patients experienced the process in telepsychotherapy as impeded. Interventions were difficult to understand and lost impact. Routines surrounding the therapy sessions were lost. Conversations were less serious and lost direction. (2) Understanding was made more difficult when the nuances of non-verbal communication were lost. (3) The emotional relationship was altered. Remote therapy was perceived as something different from regular therapy, and once back in the therapy room, the patients felt that therapy started anew. The emotional presence was experienced as weakened, but some of the patients found expressing their feelings easier in the absence of bodily co-presence. According to the patients, in-person presence contributed to their security and trust, whereas they felt that the therapists were different when working remotely, behaving in a more easygoing and familiar way, as well as more solution-focused, supportive and unprofessional, less understanding and less therapeutic. Despite this, (4) telepsychotherapy also gave the patients an opportunity to take therapy with them into their everyday lives. Discussion The results suggest that in the long run, remote psychotherapy was seen as a good enough alternative when needed. The present study indicates that format alternations have an impact on which interventions can be implemented, which can have important implications for psychotherapy training and supervision in an era when telepsychotherapy is becoming increasingly common.
Collapse
|
3
|
Zahl KE, Pedersen G, Eikenaes IUM, Stänicke LI, Wilberg T, Baltzersen ÅL, Pettersen MS, Hummelen B, Arnevik E, Johansen MS, Hartveit Kvarstein E. Avoidant and borderline personality disorder patients during the first Covid-19 wave in Norway - a survey-based comparison of therapy changes and patients' accommodations. Nord J Psychiatry 2022; 77:336-344. [PMID: 35984379 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2022.2110614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with personality disorders (PDs) often have insecure attachment patterns and may be especially vulnerable to abrupt treatment changes. Patients with borderline PD (BPD) are often considered vulnerable to treatment interruption due to chronic fear of abandonment. Nonetheless, other PDs are poorly investigated. In the first Covid-19 wave in Norway, in-person treatment facilities and group treatments were strongly restricted from March 12th until May/June 2020. OBJECTIVES To examine and compare changes in outpatient treatment for patients with avoidant (AvPD) and BPD during the first Covid-19 wave in Norway, and patients' reactions to these changes. METHODS The study is based on a cross-sectional survey distributed to 1120 patients referred to 12 different PD treatment units on a specialist mental health service level within the Norwegian Network for Personality Disorders. The survey included questions on treatment situation, immediate reactions, and changes during the crisis. From 133 responders (response rate 12%), 40 patients reported BPD and 30 AvPD as diagnosis. RESULTS All patients were followed up from their therapist after March 12th. Almost all patients in both groups expressed satisfaction under the new circumstances. Both groups experienced the same regularity as before, but more AvPD patients reported less than weekly consultations. AvPD patients reported more negative feelings about changes in therapy, and missed the therapy and group members more than the BPD group. CONCLUSION After the lockdown, BPD patients received a closer follow-up than AvPD patients, and the latter reported more negative feelings related to change in their treatment situation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kjell-Einar Zahl
- District Psychiatric Center Follo, Group Therapy Section, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Geir Pedersen
- Department for National and Regional Functions, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, NETWORK for Personality Disorders, Section for Personality Psychiatry and Specialized Treatments, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingeborg Ulltveit-Moe Eikenaes
- Department for National and Regional Functions, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, National Advisory Unit for Personality Psychiatry, Section for Personality Psychiatry and Specialized Treatments, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Line Indrevoll Stänicke
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Deacon Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Theresa Wilberg
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department for Research and Innovation, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Section for Treatment Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Åse-Line Baltzersen
- Department for National and Regional Functions, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, National Advisory Unit for Personality Psychiatry, Section for Personality Psychiatry and Specialized Treatments, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mona Skjeklesaether Pettersen
- Department for National and Regional Functions, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, NETWORK for Personality Disorders, Section for Personality Psychiatry and Specialized Treatments, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Norwegian Centre for E-health Research, Troms, Norway
| | - Benjamin Hummelen
- Department for Research and Innovation, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Section for Treatment Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Espen Arnevik
- Department for Research and Innovation, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Section for Clinical Addiction Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Merete Selsbakk Johansen
- Department for National and Regional Functions, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Outpatient Clinic for Specialized Treatment of Personality Disorders, Section for Personality Psychiatry and Specialized Treatments, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Elfrida Hartveit Kvarstein
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department for National and Regional Functions, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Section for Personality Psychiatry and Specialized Treatments, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|