Effects of a six-week mechanism based psychotherapy program on biobehavioral mechanisms of reactive aggressive behavior in patients with a borderline personality disorder. - KFO-IP2

Although no significant difference in M-OAS overt aggression between treatments was found at post-treatment (adjusted difference in mean 3.49 (95% CI = [-5.32;12.31], p=0.22), the MAAP group showed a clinically relevant decrease of aggressive behavior of 65% on average (vs. 33% in the NSSP group), with a particularly strong improvement among those with the highest baseline aggression. Most notably, significant differences in reduction of overt aggression between MAAP and NSSP were found at follow-up. Conclusions: Patients with BPD and aggressive behavior benefitted from a short 6-week group psychotherapy with improvement particularly visible at 6-months follow-up. Future studies have to show whether effects are specific of MAAP.