Clinical Report: Enhancing Personality Functioning in Individuals with Personality Disorders

Overview

This study compares mentalization-based treatment (MBT) and non-manualized treatments (NMT) for patients with personality disorders (PDs) in Norway. Both treatment modalities showed improvements in personality functioning, with MBT demonstrating effects for patients with more severe PDs, particularly those with borderline and narcissistic traits.

Background

Personality disorders are prevalent and significantly impact individuals' quality of life and social functioning. Effective treatment options are crucial, as psychotherapy is the first-line intervention for PDs. This study investigates the effectiveness of MBT, a structured therapy, compared to NMT.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• Patients in MBT had more severe personality pathology compared to those in NMT.
• MBT showed greater improvement in personality functioning for patients with borderline and narcissistic traits.
• Both MBT and NMT resulted in improvements in personality functioning.
• Higher numbers of avoidant PD criteria were associated with poorer improvement in MBT.
• Longitudinal change in personality functioning was comparable between MBT and NMT.

Clinical Implications

Clinicians should consider the severity and type of personality disorder when selecting treatment modalities. While both MBT and NMT are effective, MBT may be more beneficial for patients with borderline and narcissistic traits.

Conclusion

Both MBT and NMT can lead to improvements in personality functioning.

Related Resources & Content

1. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2026 -- Patient and therapist perspectives on impact, outcomes and change mechanisms in Trauma-Focused Mentalization-Based Treatment: A qualitative interview study
2. BMC Psychiatry, 2025 -- The effectiveness of generalist (GIT-PD) versus specialist treatment (MBT/ST) for severe personality disorders (Personality Disorders Access to Effective Treatment, P-DAET): study protocol of a pragmatic randomised controlled non-inferiority multicentre trial
3. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2026 -- The significance of personality disorder and traits in short-term psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy for major depression
4. Clinical descriptions and diagnostic requirements for ICD-11 mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders (CDDR), 2024
5. Psychiatry.org - Borderline Personality Disorder, 2026
6. Frontiers in Psychiatry — Machiavellianism, level of personality functioning, and maladaptive personality traits: mediation analyses in a clinical sample
7. Clinical descriptions and diagnostic requirements for ICD-11 mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders (CDDR)
8. Psychiatry.org - Borderline Personality Disorder
9. Randomized Controlled Trial of Outpatient Mentalization-Based Treatment Versus Structured Clinical Management for Borderline Personality Disorder | American Journal of Psychiatry