Abstract
Background
Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) has been proposed as a promising approach when treating patients suffering from borderline personality disorder (BPD) and severe self-harm. Though study findings on MBT for patients who self-harm are convincing, a meta-analysis showed mixed results, calling for further research and the development of treatment protocols (Gross et al., 2024).
Aim
The aim of this study was to describe an add-on AMBIT intervention for adult patients suffering from severe self-harm. To demonstrate the add-on AMBIT’s potential, a descriptive longitudinal study design was facilitated and illustrated with a single case of a woman in her mid-twenties suffering from BPD and severe self-harm.
Materials and Methods
Multiple data sources were applied to show the longitudinal development of the patient one year before entering treatment, during treatment, and one year after treatment including calculation of number of hospitalized bed days, coercion episodes, and suicide attempts. Additionally, the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory, the Affect Integration Inventory, the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist, and the WHO’s Quality of Life questionnaire were measured every third month during a 2-year treatment period to examine trajectories of change across time.
Results
Results revealed significant improvements on all measured parameters including a reduction in the patient’s number of bed days (from 166 to 0), hospitalizations (from 4 to 0), coercion episodes (from 22 to 0), and suicide attempts (from 2 to 0). Furthermore, measures during the treatment period showed reduced self-harm, decreased symptomatology, increased affect integration, better interpersonal functionality, and improved everyday functioning. Measures 1 year after treatment suggested lasting effects.
Discussion
The potential of the add-on AMBIT intervention is discussed, including limitations and future research recommendations.
Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) has been proposed as a promising approach when treating patients suffering from borderline personality disorder (BPD) and severe self-harm. Though study findings on MBT for patients who self-harm are convincing, a meta-analysis showed mixed results, calling for further research and the development of treatment protocols (Gross et al., 2024).
Aim
The aim of this study was to describe an add-on AMBIT intervention for adult patients suffering from severe self-harm. To demonstrate the add-on AMBIT’s potential, a descriptive longitudinal study design was facilitated and illustrated with a single case of a woman in her mid-twenties suffering from BPD and severe self-harm.
Materials and Methods
Multiple data sources were applied to show the longitudinal development of the patient one year before entering treatment, during treatment, and one year after treatment including calculation of number of hospitalized bed days, coercion episodes, and suicide attempts. Additionally, the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory, the Affect Integration Inventory, the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist, and the WHO’s Quality of Life questionnaire were measured every third month during a 2-year treatment period to examine trajectories of change across time.
Results
Results revealed significant improvements on all measured parameters including a reduction in the patient’s number of bed days (from 166 to 0), hospitalizations (from 4 to 0), coercion episodes (from 22 to 0), and suicide attempts (from 2 to 0). Furthermore, measures during the treatment period showed reduced self-harm, decreased symptomatology, increased affect integration, better interpersonal functionality, and improved everyday functioning. Measures 1 year after treatment suggested lasting effects.
Discussion
The potential of the add-on AMBIT intervention is discussed, including limitations and future research recommendations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e12851 |
| Journal | Counselling and Psychotherapy Research |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| ISSN | 1473-3145 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2025 |
Keywords
- AMBIT
- epistemic trust
- keyworker
- MBT
- mentalisation
- self-harm
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