Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effects of ISTDP for Personality Disorders in a Specialized Psychiatric Clinic

Both the individual therapy and the group therapy is based on ISTDP (Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy), an affect-focused psychodynamic therapy method. The therapy focus on the relationship between feelings, anxiety and dysfunctional emotion regulation (i.e. defenses). The purpose is to increase the capacity of anxiety regulation in the patient and to help the patient identify the dysfunctional patterns developed to avoid internal stress and then gradually approach previously warded of feelings. The individual therapy consists of 25 weekly sessions. The group treatment consists of 18 weekly sessions and is structured in three phases. Phase one: Psychoeducation about anxiety and exercises in anxiety regulation. Phase two: patients takes turn to observe their own anxiety and defenses together with a therapist. Phase three: Every session two patients will work with a chosen problem and identify defenses, anxiety and feelings together with a therapist in front of the group.