Publication: Iconic Therapy for the reduction of borderline personality disorder symptoms among suicidal youth: a preliminary study.
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Identifiers
Date
2022-03-29
Authors
Hurtado-Santiago, Silvia
Guzman-Parra, Jose
Mayoral, Fermin
Bersabe, Rosa M
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Iconic therapy (IT) is a new therapy that uses images to teach skills with the aim of improving the symptoms of borderline personality disorder. Preliminary results are promising, and there is indication that IT may be effective. The purpose of this preliminary study was to test the effectiveness of IT compared to a psychological supportive intervention (SI). The study was carried out at the University Regional Hospital of Malaga. Young patients (N = 40; 15-30 years) with suicidal or parasuicidal behavior and borderline personality traits were randomized into IT (N = 20) or SI (N = 20). The main outcome variable was a change in the symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BSL-23) at the end of treatment. The secondary outcome variables were suicidal ideation and behavior, self-harm, the need for medication, the number of visits to mental health professionals, maladaptive behavior, satisfaction with therapy and perceived improvement, both at the end of the intensive treatment and at the 12-month follow-up. As expected, the two therapies produced a reduction in BPD symptoms at 10 weeks post-treatment and at the 12-month follow-up. Contrary to expectation, there were no statistically significant differences in the effectiveness of the two therapies (p > 0.05). However, at the 12-month follow-up, the effect sizes for the difference between the effectiveness of the two therapy groups on BSL-23 scores (d = 0.33) and on maladjustment to daily life (d = 0.39) was found to exceed the commonly used convention for a small effect (d = 0.20). Besides, participants in the IT group showed greater satisfaction with therapy than those who received SI. The mean difference between groups was statistically significant after the 10-week treatment period (p 0.05). However, at the 12-month follow-up, the effect sizes for the difference between the effectiveness of the two therapy groups on BSL-23 scores (d = 0.33) and on maladjustment to daily life (d = 0.39) was found to exceed the commonly used convention for a small effect (d = 0.20). Besides, participants in the IT group showed greater satisfaction with therapy than those who received SI. The mean difference between groups was statistically significant after the 10-week treatment period (p .05), although the effect size for this analysis (d = 0.34) was found to exceed a small effect. This preliminary study did not find a statistically significant difference in the effectiveness of the two therapies, probably due to the small sample of participants, but there are some indicators (effect sizes) suggesting that perhaps IT may be superior for reducing BPD symptoms and maladjustment in daily life. Future studies with larger samples and comparisons with established treatments for borderline personality disorder are necessary to confirm that IT effects are significant and persistent in the long term.
Description
MeSH Terms
Adolescent
Borderline Personality Disorder
Humans
Self-Injurious Behavior
Suicidal Ideation
Borderline Personality Disorder
Humans
Self-Injurious Behavior
Suicidal Ideation
DeCS Terms
Conducta
Trastorno de Personalidad Limítrofe
Satisfacción Personal
Ideación Suicida
Salud Mental
Indicadores y Reactivos
Trastorno de Personalidad Limítrofe
Satisfacción Personal
Ideación Suicida
Salud Mental
Indicadores y Reactivos
CIE Terms
Keywords
Borderline personality disorder, Clinical trial, Iconic therapy, Psychological therapy, Suicide
Citation
Hurtado-Santiago S, Guzmán-Parra J, Mayoral F, Bersabé RM. Iconic Therapy for the reduction of borderline personality disorder symptoms among suicidal youth: a preliminary study. BMC Psychiatry. 2022 Mar 29;22(1):224