Interrater Reliability of the Psychological Mindedness Assessment Procedure, Extended (Dutch) Version, in a Clinical Patient Population.

The Psychological Mindedness Assessment Procedure, Extended Dutch Version (PMAP-plus), was developed to assess psychological mindedness in mental health care. Psychological Mindedness represents the ability to understand self and others through mental representations of internal psychodynamic states. In patients, deficits in psychological mindedness capacity can cause problems in self- and interpersonal functioning. This brief report describes interrater reliability of four PMAP-plus scenarios for evaluating psychological mindedness capacity among patients. Patients with personality disorders (N = 194) were asked to respond to four enacted videotaped PMAP-plus scenarios presenting a person talking about a personal experience. The videotaped scenarios varied in their emotional impact. All verbatim responses were scored by two clinically experienced raters on a hierarchical scale with gradually increasing complexity of psychodynamic understanding. Clinicians achieved acceptable interrater reliability on PMAP-plus in this patient population. Two scenarios with low emotional impact evoked significantly higher interrater agreement as compared to two scenarios with high emotional impact. Our results suggest that mental health professionals can reliably distinguish levels of psychological mindedness by assessing PMAP-plus in a patient population. Scenarios differ in potency to reveal psychological mindedness capacity. The variation in emotional impact in subsequent scenarios makes it a promising instrument measuring psychodynamic capacities for psychotherapeutic treatment.

Exploring effectiveness of CBT in obese patients with binge eating disorder: personality functioning is associated with clinically significant change.

BACKGROUND: Binge eating disorder (BED), as the most prevalent eating disorder, is strongly related to obesity and other somatic and psychiatric morbidity. Despite evidence-based treatments a considerable number of BED patients fail to recover. There is preliminary evidence for the association between psychodynamic personality functioning and personality traits on treatment outcome. However, research is limited and results are still contradictory. Identifying variables associated with treatment outcome could improve treatment programs. The aim of the study was to explore whether personality functioning or personality traits are associated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) outcome in obese female patients with BED or subthreshold BED. METHODS: Eating disorder symptoms and clinical variables were assessed in 168 obese female patients with DSM-5 BED or subthreshold BED, referred to a 6-month outpatient CBT program in a pre-post measurement design. Personality functioning was assessed by the Developmental Profile Inventory (DPI), personality traits by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Treatment outcome was assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) global score and self-reported binge eating frequency. According to the criteria of clinical significance, 140 treatment completers were categorized in four outcome groups (recovered, improved, unchanged, deteriorated). RESULTS: EDE-Q global scores, self-reported binge eating frequency and BMI significantly decreased during CBT, where 44.3% of patients showed clinically significant change in EDE-Q global score. Treatment outcome groups showed significant overall differences on the DPI Resistance and Dependence scales and the aggregated 'neurotic' scale. Significant overall differences were found between groups on TCI Harm avoidance, although post hoc t-tests were non-significant. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression analysis, controlling for mild to moderate depressive disorder and TCI harm avoidance showed that 'neurotic' personality functioning was a significant negative predictor of clinically significant change. CONCLUSION: Maladaptive ('neurotic') personality functioning is significantly associated with a less favorable outcome after CBT in patients with binge eating. Moreover, 'neurotic' personality functioning is a predictor of clinically significant change. Assessment of personality functioning and personality traits could support indication for more specified or augmented care, tailored towards the patients' individual strengths and vulnerabilities. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study protocol was retrospectively evaluated and approved on 16-06-2022 by the Medical Ethical Review Committee (METC) of the Amsterdam Medical Centre (AMC). Reference number W22_219#22.271.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Are Psychodynamic Theories and the Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders Finally Going to Meet?

Narcissistic Personality Disorder is the new borderline personality disorder of our current era. There have been recent developments on narcissism that are certainly worthwhile examining. Firstly, relational and intersubjective psychoanalysts have been rethinking the underlying concepts of narcissism, focusing on the development of self and relations to others. Secondly, in the DSM-5, the Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) was presented for a dimensional evaluation of the severity of personality disorder pathology. The combined dimensional and trait conceptualization of NPD opened the door to new integrated diagnostic perspectives, including both internal and interpersonal functioning. Finally, Pincus and Lukowitsky encourage clinicians to use a hierarchical model of pathological narcissism, as it opens up opportunities for shared points of interest in empirical research from different scholarly perspectives. As for most non-psychodynamic clinicians and researchers the DSM-5 clearly bears dominant weight in their work, we will take the AMPD model for NPD as our point of reference. We will discuss the narcissist's unique pattern of self-impairments in identity and self-direction, and of interpersonal disfunctioning (evaluated by assessing empathy and intimacy). Subsequently, we will examine how contemporary psychodynamic theories and the hierarchical model of Pincus and Lukowitsky additionally inform or contradict the AMPD. For us, one of the big advantages of the AMPD is the use of structured clinical evaluations of disturbances of the self and interpersonal functioning and the dimensional evaluation of severity. As psychodynamically oriented therapists, we are enthusiastic about the opportunities for inclusion of psychodynamic concepts, but we also discuss a number of sticking points.

Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for Borderline Personality Disorder: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Several promising studies investigated marine omega-3 fatty acids (ie, fish oil) in borderline personality disorder (BPD), but overall effects remain unclear. The aim of this study was to obtain estimates of effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids in BPD using meta-analysis, with a priori differentiation of affective, impulsive, and cognitive-perceptual symptom domains. DATA SOURCES: We performed a literature search in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE, using terms related to BPD and omega-3 fatty acids. Publication date was not a restriction. STUDY SELECTION: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared omega-3 fatty acids to placebo or any active comparator and pooled data using meta-analysis. Five studies were included in the meta-analysis, describing 4 RCTs testing effects of omega-3 fatty acids in 137 patients with BPD or BPD-related behavior. DATA EXTRACTION: Using a pre-piloted data extraction form, we obtained data including intervention dose, duration, and BPD symptom scale scores, differentiating affective, impulsive, and cognitive-perceptual symptom domains. RESULTS: Random effects meta-analysis showed an overall significant decreasing effect of omega-3 fatty acids on overall BPD symptom severity (0.54 standardized difference in means [SDM]; 95% CI = 0.91 to 0.17; Z = 2.87; P = .0041), without heterogeneity (I2 = 0.00; Q = 2.63; P = .45). A priori differentiation of relevant symptom domains showed significant effects on affect dysregulation (0.74 SDM; 95% CI = 1.21 to 0.27; Z = 3.11; P = .002) and impulsive behavior (0.45 SDM; 95% CI = 0.84 to 0.059; Z = 2.26; P = .024). However, effects on cognitive-perceptual symptoms did not reach the significance threshold. CONCLUSIONS: Available data indicate that marine omega-3 fatty acids improve symptoms of BPD, particularly impulsive behavioral dyscontrol and affective dysregulation. Marine omega-3 fatty acids could be considered as add-on therapy.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake-Inhibitors for Symptom-Based Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorders in Older Adults: An International Delphi Study.

OBJECTIVE: International guidelines on symptom-based treatment of borderline personality disorders (BPD) in older adults are lacking. The number of older adults (≥ 65 years) with borderline personality disorder is rising. Effectiveness of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) on symptoms of BPD has only been investigated in younger adults and results are ambiguous. During life, serotonergic function changes, which can influence the indication and effectiveness of SSRIs in older adults with BPD. Aim of this study is to reach consensus on the suitability of SSRIs for the treatment of older adults with BPD. METHODS: A Delphi study was conducted among eighteen international experts. In three successive rounds, a total of 16 statements addressing the treatment with SSRI's in older adults with BPD were assessed. Consensus on specific statements was reached if at least two-third of these experts agreed. RESULTS: Consensus was reached on 11 statements related to the indication and effectiveness of SSRIs in the treatment of older adults with BPD. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest a valuable role for SSRIs in the treatment of affective instability, and to a lesser extent impulsive behavior, in older adults with BPD. Sertraline or citalopram are suggested to be the first-choice medication but should be prescribed with some caution. Treatment recommendations have been suggested (presented in a flowchart), but still have to be investigated in clinical practice.

Personality Functioning in Obesity and Binge Eating Disorder: Combining a Psychodynamic and Trait Perspective.

OBJECTIVE: There is preliminary evidence for an association between personality traits and binge eating disorder (BED) in obese patients. In addition, recent studies have shown impaired psychodynamic personality functioning in BED. However, these results are partly inconsistent. The goal of this study was to explore and evaluate personality traits and personality functioning in obese patients with BED or subthreshold BED. Moreover, we aimed to explore the additional value of combined assessment of personality traits and personality functioning. METHODS: Treatment-seeking obese female patients with BED (n=129) or subthreshold BED (n=91) were compared with obese (n=107) and nonobese (n=90) female community controls in terms of personality traits (using the Temperament and Character Inventory) and personality functioning (using the Developmental Profile Inventory) in univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Harm Avoidance was higher and Self-Directedness was lower in obese patients with BED or subthreshold BED compared with obese and nonobese community controls. In addition, obese patients with BED or subthreshold BED presented more maladaptive and less adaptive personality functioning than controls. Although univariate analyses did not find significant differences in personality traits or personality functioning between obese patients with BED and those with subthreshold BED, when both personality traits and personality functioning were combined in multivariate analysis (data from both the Temperament and Character Inventory and Developmental Profile Inventory), obese patients with BED showed greater vulnerabilities in personality traits and functioning than obese patients with subthreshold BED. CONCLUSIONS: Obese patients with BED or subthreshold BED had specific impairments in personality traits and personality functioning. Combined assessment indicated that patients with BED had the most vulnerable personality profile of the 4 groups. The results support the added value of assessment of both personality traits and psychodynamic personality functioning, in line with the alternative Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) model for personality disorders.

Lower versus higher frequency of sessions in starting outpatient mental health care and the risk of a chronic course; a naturalistic cohort study.

BACKGROUND: An adequate frequency of treatment might be a prerequisite for a favorable outcome. Unfortunately, there is a diversity of factors that interfere with an adequate frequency of sessions. This occurs especially in the first phase of treatment, while the first phase seems vital for the rest of treatment. The aim of this naturalistic study was to explore the impact of the initial frequency of treatment sessions on treatment outcome in a diverse mental health care population. METHODS: Anonymized data were analyzed from 2,634 patients allocated for anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and personality disorders to outpatient treatment programs in a large general mental health care facility. Patients' treatment outcome was routinely monitored with the Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45.2), every 12 weeks. Frequency of sessions was assessed for the first three months of treatment. Using Cox-proportional-hazard models, we explored the associations between initial frequency and improvement (reliable significant change) and recovery (reliable and clinically significant change). RESULTS: Improvement and recovery were associated with symptom severity and functional impairment at start of treatment, the year the treatment started, number of measurements, the treatment program (anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and personality disorders) and receiving group therapy other than psychotherapy. In all diagnostic groups, both improvement and recovery were associated with a higher frequency of sessions during the first three months of treatment. For improvement, this effect diminished after three years in treatment; however, for recovery this association was sustained. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to severity at start of treatment and other predictors of outcome, a low frequency of initial treatment sessions might lead to a less favorable outcome and a more chronic course of the mental disorder. This association seems not to be limited to a specific diagnostic group, but was found in a large group of patients with common mental disorders (depression and anxiety disorders) and patients with a personality disorder. Despite organizational obstacles, more effort should be made to start treatment quickly by an effective frequency of session.

Assessment of Pathological Traits in DSM-5 Personality Disorders By the DAPP-BQ: How Do These Traits Relate to the Six Personality Disorder Types of the Alternative Model?

The six personality disorder (PD) types in DSM-5 section III are intended to resemble their DSM-IV/DSM-5 section II PD counterparts, but are now described by the level of personality functioning (criterion A) and an assigned trait profile (criterion B). However, concerns have been raised about the validity of these PD types. The present study examined the continuity between the DSM-IV/DSM-5 section II PDs and the corresponding trait profiles of the six DSM-5 section III PDs in a sample of 350 Dutch psychiatric patients. Facets of the Dimensional Assessment of Personality Pathology-Basic Questionnaire (DAPP-BQ) were presumed as representations (proxies) of the DSM-5 section III traits. Correlational patterns between the DAPP-BQ and the six PDs were consistent with previous research between DAPP-BQ and DSM-IV PDs. Moreover, DAPP-BQ proxies were able to predict the six selected PDs. However, the assigned trait profile for each PD didn't fully match the corresponding PD.

The Developmental Profile Inventory: Constructing a Clinically Useful Self-Report for Levels of Psychodynamic Personality Functioning.

OBJECTIVE: The Developmental Profile Inventory (DPI) was constructed to assess psychodynamic personality functioning by self-report. METHOD: On the basis of the frame of reference of the Development Profile interview method, a self-report was developed covering 3 domains, self, interpersonal functioning, and problem-solving strategies, which represent 6 maladaptive and 3 adaptive developmental levels of psychodynamic functioning. The DPI was administered to patients with personality disorders who were receiving psychotherapy (N=179) and to normal controls (N=228). RESULTS: The internal reliabilities of the subscales were in general in the fair to good range in the patient sample, (α=0.67 to 0.88, ωh=0.52 to 0.87) and adequate to good in the healthy controls (α=0.71 to 0.91, ωh=0.71 to 0.90). Mean item-rest correlations were adequate (0.30 to 0.50). Test-retest reliability was good (intraclass correlation=0.73 to 0.91). The hypothesized factorial structure of the DPI with 9 subscales organized in 3 clusters was partly confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis χ/df=2.37, root mean square error of approximation=0.060, root mean residual square=0.078, and comparative fit index=0.630, with each factor showing over 80% standardized loadings >0.30, and at least 75% loadings >0.40. The DPI discriminated patients and healthy controls in a meaningful way. Correlations among the DPI and other self-report measures of global personality pathology and psychological complaints showed satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS: The DPI is a promising self-report measure for assessing both adaptive and maladaptive patterns of psychodynamic personality functioning. The appropriate initial psychometric properties justify proceeding with more formal tests of construct validity and predictive performance in broader mental health settings.

Adverse Effects of Outcome Monitoring Feedback in Patients With Personality Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Day Treatment and Inpatient Settings.

This study aimed to evaluate the differential effect of outcome monitoring feedback to therapists and to patients on outcomes in cluster B, cluster C, and personality disorder not otherwise specified (PD-NOS) patients. Day treatment patients (n = 112) and inpatients (n = 94) were randomly assigned to a feedback to therapist (FbT), feedback to therapist and patient (FbTP), or no feedback (NFb) condition. Feedback was based on weekly administrations of the Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45). In cluster B and PD-NOS patients FbTP resulted in increased OQ-45 scores during the first 6 months of therapy for not on track (NOT) patients. In cluster C patients, no adverse effects of feedback were found. These results suggest that for certain personality disorder patient groups, providing feedback during treatment may not always be beneficial, although more research is needed to further assess these effects.

Borderline or Schizotypal? Differential Psychodynamic Assessment in Severe Personality Disorders.

Considerable overlap in symptoms between patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and schizotypal personality disorder (STPD) complicates personality diagnostics. Yet very little is known about the level of psychodynamic functioning of both personality disorders. Psychodynamic assessment procedures may specify personality characteristics relevant for differential diagnosis and treatment planning. In this cross-sectional study we explored the differences and similarities in level of personality functioning and psychodynamic features of patients with severe BPD or STPD. In total, 25 patients with BPD and 13 patients with STPD were compared regarding their level of personality functioning (General Assessment of Personality Disorder), current quasipsychotic features (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire), and psychodynamic functioning [Developmental Profile (DP) interview and Developmental Profile Inventory (DPI) questionnaire]. Both groups of patients showed equally severe impairments in the level of personality functioning and the presence of current quasipsychotic features. As assessed by the DP interview, significant differential psychodynamic patterns were found on the primitive levels of functioning. Moreover, subjects with BPD had significantly higher scores on the adaptive developmental levels. However, the self-questionnaire DPI was not able to elucidate all of these differences. In conclusion, our study found significant differences in psychodynamic functioning between patients with BPD and STPD as assessed with the DP interview. In complicated diagnostic cases, personality assessment by psychodynamic interviewing can enhance subtle but essential differentiation between BPD and STPD.

Pharmacotherapy for borderline patients: business as usual or by default?

In their analysis of a representative sample from the Prescribing Observatory for Mental Health in the UK health services, Paton et al found that 92% of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) received prescriptions for psychotropic medications. Although international guidelines recommend pharmacotherapy for comorbid psychiatric disorders whenever necessary, 82% of the UK BPD patients without such comorbid conditions nevertheless received pharmacotherapy "by default," mostly off-label polypharmacy without adequate psychiatric controls for effectiveness and tolerability. Business as usual? Bad care? International practice guidelines for the treatment of BPD all recommend evidence-based psychological treatment whenever possible (especially manualized psychotherapy like dialectical behavior therapy, schema-focused therapy, mentalization-based treatment, transference-focused psychotherapy) as the first-choice treatment.

Treatment duration and premature termination of psychotherapy in personality disorders: predictive performance of psychodynamic personality functioning.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about predictors of treatment duration and premature termination of psychotherapy. METHOD: Sociodemographic variables, descriptive DSM-IV psychiatric diagnoses, general symptom severity, and psychodynamic personality functioning were assessed in 148 inpatients with personality disorders who were receiving psychotherapy. Psychodynamic personality functioning was assessed using the Developmental Profile (DP). Predictive performance and incremental value over and beyond demographics and descriptive diagnoses were determined. RESULTS: In contrast to DSM-IV diagnoses and symptom severity, psychodynamic variables and the level of personality functioning significantly predicted treatment duration and premature treatment termination. Longer treatment duration was predicted by adaptive DP levels of personality functioning, whereas shorter treatment duration was associated with maladaptive personality functioning (primitive DP levels, including fragmentation and self-centeredness). DP variables independently explained 6% of the variance. CONCLUSION: In contrast to DSM-IV diagnoses and general symptom severity, psychodynamic personality variables significantly predicted treatment duration and premature discharge. These findings support the relevance of psycho-dynamic assessments in clinical practice, the DSM-5 proposals for the definition of personality functioning, and the predictive validity of the DP.

Differential effectiveness of antipsychotics in borderline personality disorder: meta-analyses of placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials on symptomatic outcome domains.

OBJECTIVE: In clinical practice, antipsychotic drugs are widely used in borderline personality disorder (BPD). To evaluate current pharmacological treatment algorithms and guidelines for BPD, the authors reviewed and meta-analyzed studies on the effectiveness of antipsychotics on specific symptom domains in BPD. METHODS: The literature was searched for placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials (PC-RCTs) on the effectiveness of antipsychotics regarding cognitive perceptual symptoms, impulsive behavioral dyscontrol, and affective dysregulation (with subdomains depressed mood, anxiety, anger, and mood lability) in BPD. Studies whose primary emphasis was on the treatment of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition schizotypal personality disorder or Axis I disorders were excluded. RESULTS: Meta-analyses were conducted using 11 retrieved studies including 1152 borderline patients. Antipsychotics have a significant effect on cognitive perceptual symptoms (9 PC-RCTs; standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.23) and mood lability (5 PC-RCTs; SMD, 0.20) as well as on global functioning (8 PC-RCTs; SMD, 0.25), but these effects have to be qualified as small. Antipsychotics have a more pronounced effect on anger (9 PC-RCTs; SMD, 0.39). Antipsychotics did not have a significant effect on impulsive behavioral dyscontrol, depressed mood, and anxiety in BPD. CONCLUSION: Drug therapy tailored to well-defined symptom domains can have beneficial effects in BPD. At short term, antipsychotics can have significant effects on cognitive-perceptual symptoms, anger, and mood lability, but the wide and long-term use of antipsychotics in these patients remains controversial. The findings from this study raise questions on current pharmacological algorithms and clinical guidelines.

Treatment-disrupting behaviors during psychotherapy of patients with personality disorders: the predictive power of psychodynamic personality diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral dyscontrol and violations of treatment contracts are serious clinical problems during psychotherapy, especially in treating patients with personality disorders. However, little is known about predictors of these treatment-interfering phenomena. OBJECTIVE: To identify psychodynamic personality characteristics that can interfere with the psychotherapy process as indicated by treatment-disrupting behaviors. METHODS: Sociodemographic characteristics, descriptive psychiatric diagnoses, and psycho-dynamic characteristics were assessed in 89 inpatients with personality disorders in psychotherapeutic treatment. Psychodynamic characteristics were assessed with the Develop mental Profile (DP). DP variables were used to predict impulsive acts, anger outbursts, para-suicidal behaviors, and contract violations. Incremental value was established. RESULTS: In this sample, 4 out of 5 patients engaged in treatment-interfering behaviors during the first 3 months of therapy. In general, treatment-disrupting behaviors were not predicted by baseline DSM-IV Axis I or II disorders. In contrast, impulsive behaviors, anger outbursts, and contract violations were significantly predicted by psychodynamic variables, especially the DP levels Fragmentation and Egocentricity. DP variables accounted for an incremental predictive value of 23% for treatment-disrupting behaviors, over and above demographics and descriptive diagnoses. Para-suicidal gestures were not predicted by either DSM-IV diagnoses or psychodynamic variables. CONCLUSION: Psychodynamic personality variables significantly predicted impulsive behaviors, outbursts of anger, and treatment contract violations during psychotherapeutic treatment. The amount of explained variance and incremental value was substantial. These findings support the relevance of psychodynamic assessment in clinical practice. (Journal of Psychiatric Practice. 2011;17:21-34).

Making diagnosis more meaningful. The Developmental Profile: a psychodynamic assessment of personality.

The Developmental Profile (DP) offers a psychodynamic description of the degree to which an individual has developed adaptive functioning appropriate to his or her age, and the extent to which daily functioning is determined by "early" maladaptive patterns. In this article we summarize the taxonomic frame of reference of the DP, the constituted Developmental Lines and Developmental Levels, and the way DP can be reliably assessed by a semi-structured interview using a scoring protocol. We describe DP from a theoretical and clinical point of view. Current empirical research findings with regard to reliability and validity issues are reviewed. We discuss the use of the DP in clinical practice with respect to other diagnostic methods and assessment procedures, and its properties in supporting the treatment process. Directions for future empirical research are explored.

Effectiveness of pharmacotherapy for severe personality disorders: meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials.

CONTEXT: There has been little systematic attempt to validate current pharmacologic treatment algorithms and guidelines for severe personality disorder. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated studies on the effectiveness of psychoactive drugs on specific symptom domains for borderline and/or schizotypal personality disorder. DATA SOURCES: The literature was searched for placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials (PC-RCTs) on the effectiveness of psychopharmacologic drugs in personality disorder patients. The PubMed, PsychINFO, PiCarta, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases were searched using the search terms borderline personality, schizotypal personality, personality disorder, cluster A, cluster B, treatment, drug, pharmacotherapy, antipsychotic, antidepressant, mood stabilizer, effect, outcome, review, and meta-analysis for studies published between 1980 and December 2007, and references were identified from bibliographies from articles and books. STUDY SELECTION: Placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials on the efficacy of antipsychotics, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers regarding cognitive-perceptual symptoms, impulsive-behavioral dyscontrol, and affective dysregulation (with subdomains depressed mood, anxiety, anger, and mood lability) were selected in patients with well defined borderline and/or schizotypal personality disorder. Studies whose primary emphasis was on the treatment of Axis I disorders were excluded. Meta-analyses were conducted using 21 retrieved studies. RESULTS: Antipsychotics have a moderate effect on cognitive-perceptual symptoms (5 PC-RCTs; standardized mean difference [SMD]=0.56) and a moderate to large effect on anger (4 PC-RCTs; SMD=0.69). Antidepressants have no significant effect on impulsive-behavioral dyscontrol and depressed mood. They have a small but significant effect on anxiety (5 PC-RCTs; SMD=0.30) and anger (4 PC-RCTs; SMD=0.34). Mood stabilizers have a very large effect on impulsive-behavioral dyscontrol (6 PC-RCTs; SMD=1.51) and anger (7 PC-RCTs; SMD=1.33), a large effect on anxiety (3 PC-RCTs; SMD=0.80), but a moderate effect on depressed mood (5 PC-RCTs; SMD=0.55). Mood lability as an outcome measure was seldomly assessed. Mood stabilizers have a more pronounced effect on global functioning (3 PC-RCTs; SMD=0.79) than have antipsychotics (5 PC-RCTs; SMD=0.37). The effect of antidepressants on global functioning is negligible. CONCLUSIONS: Drug therapy tailored to well-defined symptom domains can have a beneficial effect on patients with severe personality disorder. The findings from this study raise questions on current pharmacologic algorithms.

Interrater reliability for Kernberg's structural interview for assessing personality organization.

Interrater reliability is considered a precondition for the validity of theoretical models and their corresponding diagnostic instruments. Studies have documented good interrater reliability for structured interviews measuring personality characteristics on a descriptive-phenomenological level but there is little research on reliability of assessment procedures on a structural level. The current study investigated the interrater reliability of the structural interview (SI) designed to assess neurotic, borderline, and psychotic personality organization according to Kernberg. Videotaped SIs of 69 psychiatric patients were randomly and independently rated by two out of three trained psychologists. Agreement between rater pairs was expressed as square weighted kappa (K(sw), 95% CI). Results indicate satisfactory interrater reliability with respect to Kernberg's tripartite classification (K(sw) = 0.42, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.77). Subdivision of the borderline category or introduction of intermediate subcategories to the tripartite system did not significantly affect reliability (K(sw) = 0.55, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.80; K(sw) = 0.59, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.84, respectively). The conclusion is that trained clinicians can reliably assess structural personality organization using the SI. Refining the nosological system adding subcategories did not reduce reliability.