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Effectiveness of Mentalization-based Therapy (MBT)

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Severe Mental Illness
Registration Number
NCT06659211
Lead Sponsor
Oulu University Hospital
Brief Summary

The effects of psychological treatment, mentalization-based therapy, will be studied among persons with mental disorders seeking help from mental health care services.

Detailed Description

Background: Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) has a growing evidence base as a group treatment, and research on MBT as an individual treatment is needed. This study will provide crucial new information on its effectiveness and usability in everyday patient care.

Methods: The study design will be an non-randomized clinical pilot study. We will study the effectiveness of MBT and analyze which factors are associated with better effectiveness. The length of intervention will be 12 months. The primary outcome measure is the change in psychological symptoms and well-being from the beginning to the end of MBT treatment, measured by CORE-OM. Secondary outcomes include several measures of symptoms, functioning, quality of life, and mentalization. Outcomes will be assessed at 6, 12 and 18 months. The study group will comprise of 64 patients receiving MBT. For comparison, patient group (n=64) with similar characteristics (age, gender, diagnosis) receiving treatment as usual (TAU) in psychiatric services will be ascertained from medical records, and their outcomes after 12 months of treatment will be compared to that of MBT -group.

Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Mentalization-based treatment/therapy

Participation criteria: Patients are not strictly limited to a specific disease/diagnostic group. This choice has been made because there is an increasing need in the mental health care for the treatment and therapy of this multi-symptom and severely symptomatic patient group, which also makes the results of the study more applicable to a real life. Patients will be selected for the MBT and TAU based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and patients preference. In addition, the selection to MBT will be made by a trained MBT therapist, who will assess the patient's suitability for MBT (e.g., patient willing to engage in active psychotherapeutic work, interested in the inner world of experience, willing to work interactively).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
128
Inclusion Criteria

MBT Group:

  • Age 18-64 years.

  • Severe psychological symptoms, decreased functioning ability for long-term

  • Challenges with interpersonal relationships and emotional regulation

  • Patients willing to receive MBT

  • At least two of the following:

    • Depression (diagnosis codes: F31.3-F31.5, F32.0-F32.9, F33.3-F33.9, F34.1) or anxiety disorder (diagnosis codes: F40-F48)
    • Trauma background either as diagnosis or as need for treatment
    • Signs of personality disorder (suspected or diagnosed)

TAU group:

  • Age 18-64 years.

  • Severe psychological symptoms, decreased functioning ability for long-term

  • Challenges with interpersonal relationships and emotional regulation

  • At least two of the following

    • Depression (diagnosis codes: F31.3-F31.5, F32.0-F32.9, F33.3-F33.9, F34.1) or anxiety disorder (diagnosis codes: F40-F48)
    • Trauma background either as diagnosis or as need for treatment
    • Signs of personality disorder (suspected or diagnosed)
Exclusion Criteria

MBT Group:

  • Active substance use disorder (i.e., intoxication F1x.0, active dependence F1x.24, Continuous use F1x.25), a physiological withdrawal state F1x.3 and F1x.4, or psychotic disorder F1x.5).
  • Acute psychosis (defined as the recent onset of severe psychotic symptoms that interfere with functioning and are not yet in a therapeutic state. Non-acute psychotic symptoms are not exclusionary)
  • Disorder requiring inpatient treatment
  • Previously received MBT
  • Currently receiving psychotherapeutic treatment (previous psychotherapeutic treatment is not an exclusion)

The exclusion criteria, therefore, do not exclude psychotic disorders or any other psychiatric illness (except substance abuse disorders).

TAU group:

  • Active substance use disorder (i.e., intoxication F1x.0, active dependence F1x.24, Continuous use F1x.25), a physiological withdrawal state F1x.3 and F1x.4, or psychotic disorder F1x.5).
  • Acute psychosis (defined as the recent onset of severe psychotic symptoms that interfere with functioning and are not yet in a therapeutic state. Non-acute psychotic symptoms are not exclusionary)
  • Disorder requiring inpatient treatment
  • Previously received MBT
  • Intensive psychotherapy (e.g. rehabilitative psychotherapy or similar weekly long-term psychotherapy)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure (CORE-OM)baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months

A self-report measure of psychological distress and symptoms. Higher scores indicates worse outcomes. Includes four main domains: wellbeing, problems, functioning and risk (to self or others).

Based on detailed instructions on calculating the scores, clinical score minimun 0 and maximum 40.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The Big Five Inventory-2 Extra-Short Form (BFI-2-XS)baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months

questionnaire assessing personality

the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-32)baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months

Questionnaire on interpersonal problems

Experiences in Close Relationships Short version (ECR-S)baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months

Measures experiences in close relationships

Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE)baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months

Questionnaire on self-esteem

Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ)baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months

Measure of emotion regulation

The Certainty About Mental States Questionnaire (CAMSQ)baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months

Questionnaire on perceived capacity of mentalising oneself and others.

The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ)baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months

a brief measure of reflective functioning, i.e. mentalizing

Quality of lifebaseline, 6, 12 and 18 months

WHO 1 question

The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)baseline, 12 months

Interview based rating of depression symptoms and their severity. Minimum: 0 Maximum: 60 Higher scores indicate more severe symptoms.

Clinical Global Impression- Severity scale (CGI-S)baseline, 12 months

Clinical Global Impression of the severity of illness. Minimum value: 1 (normal, not at all ill) Maximum value: 7 (amongst the most severely ill)

Suicidalityfrom baseline to 18 months

from questionnaires and medical records

Experiences of recovery12 and 18 months

Questions on experience of change of health status and recovery

Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS)baseline, 12 months

Clinician/investigator rated measure of social and occupational functioning. Minimum value: 0 (Inadequate information), 1 (worst functioning, unable to function, persistent inability) Maximum value: 100 (Superior functioning in a wide range of activities)

Working Alliance Inventory (WAI)baseline, 6 and 12 months

Questionnaire on therapeutic alliance. Higher scores indicate better alliance.

Patient experiences of the treatment6 and 12 months

questions on how the patient has experienced the intervention, and if he/she has experienced the treatment as beneficial

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Hospital of Oulu

🇫🇮

Oulu, Finland

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