Dosage effects of psychodynamic and schema therapy in people with comorbid depression and personality disorder: four-arm pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Higher intensity of psychotherapy might improve treatment outcome in depression, especially in those with comorbid personality disorder. AIMS: To compare the effects of 25 individual sessions (weekly) of two forms of psychotherapy - short-term psychoanalytic supportive psychotherapy (SPSP) and schema therapy - with the same treatments given for 50 sessions (twice weekly) in people with depression and personality disorder. Trial registration: NTR5941. METHOD: We conducted a pragmatic, double-randomised clinical trial and, over 37 months, recruited 246 adult out-patients with comorbid depression/dysthymia and personality disorder. A 2 × 2 factorial design randomised participants to 25 or 50 sessions of SPSP or schema therapy. The primary outcome was change in depression severity over 1 year on the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). Secondary outcomes were remission both of depression and personality disorder. RESULTS: Compared with 25 sessions, participants who received 50 sessions showed a significantly greater decrease in depressive symptoms over time (time × session dosage, P < 0.001), with a mean difference of 5.6 BDI points after 1 year (d = -0.53, 95% CI -0.18 to 0.882, P = 0.003). Remission from depression was also greater in the 50-session group (74% v. 58%, P = 0.025), as was remission of personality disorder (74% v. 56%, P = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Greater intensity of psychotherapy leads to better outcomes of both depression and personality status in people with comorbid depression and personality disorder.

Gender-specific pathways in mental health crisis in adolescents, from consultation to (in)voluntary admission: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: A strong increase in mental health emergency consultations and admissions in youths has been reported in recent years. Although empirical evidence is lacking, gender differences in risk of admission may have contributed to this increase. A clearer understanding of the relationship, if any, between gender and various aspects of (in)voluntary care would help in more evidence-based service planning. METHODS: We analysed registry data for 2008-2017 on 3770 outpatient emergencies involving young people aged 12 to 18 years from one urban area in the Netherlands, served by outreaching psychiatric emergency services. These adolescents were seen in multiple locations and received a psychosocial assessment including a questionnaire on the severity of their problems and living conditions. Our aims were to (a) investigate the different locations, previous use of mental health service, DSM classifications, severity items, living conditions and family characteristics involved and (b) identify which of these characteristics in particular contribute to an increased risk of admission. RESULTS: In 3770 consultations (concerning 2670 individuals), more girls (58%) were seen than boys. Boys and girls presented mainly with relationship problems, followed by disruptive disorders and internalizing disorders. Diagnostic differences diminished in hospitalisation. More specifically, disruptive disorders were evenly distributed. Suicide risk was rated significantly higher in girls, danger to others significantly higher in boys. More girls than boys had recently been in mental health care prior to admission. Although boys and girls overall did not differ in the severity of their problems, female gender predicted admission more strongly. In both boys and girls severity of problems and lack of involvement of the family significantly predicted admission. Older age and danger to others significantly predicted admission among boys, whereas psychosis, suicidality and poor motivation for treatment predicted admission among girls. CONCLUSION: There are different pathways for youth admission, which can partly be explained by different psychiatric classifications as well as gender-specific differences with regard to age, suicide risk, danger to others and the influence of motivation for treatment. Finally, for both genders, family desire for hospitalisation is also an important predictor.

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.

Which patients benefit from adding short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy to antidepressants in the treatment of depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data.

BACKGROUND: Adding short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STPP) to antidepressants increases treatment efficacy, but it is unclear which patients benefit specifically. This study examined efficacy moderators of combined treatment (STPP + antidepressants) v. antidepressants for adults with depression. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42017056029), we searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase.com, and the Cochrane Library from inception to 1 January 2022. We included randomized clinical trials comparing combined treatment (antidepressants + individual outpatient STPP) v. antidepressants in the acute-phase treatment of depression in adults. Individual participant data were requested and analyzed combinedly using mixed-effects models (adding Cochrane risk of bias items as covariates) and an exploratory machine learning technique. The primary outcome was post-treatment depression symptom level. RESULTS: Data were obtained for all seven trials identified (100%, n = 482, combined: n = 238, antidepressants: n = 244). Adding STPP to antidepressants was more efficacious for patients with high rather than low baseline depression levels [B = -0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.61 to -0.37, p < 0.0001] and for patients with a depressive episode duration of >2 years rather than <1 year (B = -0.68, 95% CI -1.31 to -0.05, p = 0.03) and than 1-2 years (B = -0.86, 95% CI -1.66 to -0.06, p = 0.04). Heterogeneity was low. Effects were replicated in analyses controlling for risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study that examines moderators across trials assessing the addition of STPP to antidepressants. These findings need validation but suggest that depression severity and episode duration are factors to consider when adding STPP to antidepressants and might contribute to personalizing treatment selection for depression.

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.

Group schema therapy: the temporal relationship between early maladaptive schemas and global psychological distress.

Schema therapy is an effective treatment for personality disorders (PDs). The theory of schema therapy assumes that the decrease of global psychological distress is mediated by change in Early Maladaptive Schemas. The few studies that have investigated a temporal relationship have produced contradictory results. This study examined the temporal relationship between changes in Early Maladaptive Schemas and global psychological distress in Group Schema Therapy (GST) for patients with personality disorders.Assessments were made of 115 patients at baseline, after 20, 40 and after 60 sessions of treatment. We used the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ) to measure the severity of Early Maladaptive Schemas and the Symptom Check List-90 Revisited (SCL-90R) to measure global psychological distress. Linear mixed model analyzes were used to examine the temporal relationship between the initial phase (0-20 and 0-40 sessions) and the later phase (40-60 sessions).Change in Early Maladaptive Schemas does not precede change in global psychological distress. Conversely, global psychological distress does not precede change in Early Maladaptive Schemas; the improvement in both indicators is concurrent.In this study, we could not confirm that the decrease of Early Maladaptive Schemas precedes decrease of global psychological distress. We found a concurrent relationship.

The Association Between Loneliness and Psychiatric Symptomatology in Older Psychiatric Outpatients.

PURPOSE: Loneliness in adults increases with age. Although loneliness has been found to be associated with psychiatric disorders and dementia, no information is available on prevalence of loneliness in older psychiatric patients. The aims of this study were to examine prevalence of loneliness in older psychiatric outpatients, including gender differences and associations with psychiatric disorders and social isolation. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in an outpatient clinic for geriatric psychiatry between September 2013 and February 2018. Interviews were done in 181 patients. RESULTS: 80% of participants were lonely. Loneliness was associated with having contacts in less social network domains, in women but not in men. There were no associations with DSM-IV-TR-classifications. However, loneliness was associated with higher scores on questionnaires for depression and cognitive function. Intensity of treatment did not differ significantly between lonely and non-lonely participants. CONCLUSION: Loneliness is highly prevalent in older psychiatric outpatients, with men and women equally affected. Loneliness should be assessed in all older psychiatric patients, especially when they show high scores on symptom checklists or have a restricted social network.

A survey of depression and anxiety disorders in urban and rural Suriname.

BACKGROUND: Suriname is a Low-middle income country consisting of diverse population groups. Epidemiological studies concerning mental disorders like depression and anxiety had not been conducted until 2015. The treatment gap for mental disorders in Low and middle-income countries (LMICs) may reach 76-80% as treatment is not always readily available. In this study, we estimate and compare the prevalence of potential cases of depression and anxiety, as well as the size of the treatment gap in a rural (Nickerie) and urban (Paramaribo) region of Suriname, a lower middle-income country. METHODS: Subjects were selected by a specific sampling method of the national census bureau. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) was used to assess depression. Generalized anxiety disorder was assessed with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) and The Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire (ACQ), the Body Sensations Questionnaire (BSQ) were used to assess Panic disorder. The treatment gap was calculated by estimating the percentage of subjects with depression or anxiety that did not seek out professional help. RESULTS: About 18% of the respondents from Nickerie and 16% from Paramaribo were at risk of depression and the established cut-off values of the instruments used indicate that about 3-4% in both regions may suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Women in both samples were most at risk of high anxiety about body sensations and maladaptive thoughts about panic. The treatment gap varies between 78 and 100% for the two disorders. CONCLUSIONS: A high depression rate has been found in both areas, especially among young females. In addition, a high treatment gap is noted which insinuates that more therapeutic strategies are required to tackle depression and anxiety in Suriname.

Impact of COVID-19 social distancing measures on routine mental health care provision and treatment outcome for common mental disorders in the Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: The uptake of digital interventions in mental health care (MHC) has been slow, as many therapists and patients believe that in-person contact is essential for establishing a good working relationship and good outcomes in treatment. The public health policies regarding social distancing during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced an abrupt transformation of MHC provisions for outpatients: Since mid-March 2020, nearly all in-person contact was replaced with videoconferencing. The COVID-19 crisis offered a unique opportunity to investigate whether MHC with videoconferencing yields inferior results as compared to in-person interventions. METHOD: In a large urban MHC facility in the Netherlands, measurement-based care is routine practice. Outcome data are regularly collected to support shared decision making and monitor patient progress. For this study, pretest and post-test data were used to compare outcomes for three cohorts: treatments performed prior to, partially during and entirely during the COVID-19 lockdown. Outcomes were compared in two large data sets: Basic MHC (N = 1392) and Specialized MHC (N = 1040). RESULTS: Therapeutic outcomes appeared robust for COVID-19 conditions across the three cohorts: No differences in outcomes were found between treatments that were conducted during lockdown compared to in-person treatments prior to COVID-19, or treatments which started in-person, but needed to be continued by means of videoconferencing. DISCUSSION: Videoconferencing care during the COVID-19 pandemic had similar outcomes compared to traditional in-person care. These real-world results corroborate findings of previous randomized controlled studies and meta-analyses in which videoconferencing and in-person care has been directly compared in terms of clinical effectiveness.

Behavioral and psychological factors associated with suboptimal weight loss in post-bariatric surgery patients.

PURPOSE: Bariatric surgery is the most effective long-term treatment for sustained weight loss in obesity. Studies have shown that not all patients lose the expected amount of weight. The aim of this study was to develop a better understanding of which behavioral and psychological factors are associated with suboptimal weight loss. METHODS: The present paper describes a cross-sectional study that included 140 participants. The mean follow-up period after bariatric surgery was 3.16 years. Eating disorder pathology (Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire), impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness scale-II) and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory) were compared with successful and suboptimal participants. A weight loss of more than or equal to 50% of excess weight, was considered to be successful. RESULTS: More than 81% of the participants met the criterion for successful weight loss. The suboptimal weight loss group reported more symptoms of eating disorder pathology (p = .001), more loss of control over eating (p = .001), and more avoidant behavior due to poor body image (p < .001). The suboptimal weight loss group scored higher on impulsivity (p = .007) and on depression (p < .001). More early weight loss was associated with better weight outcome later on (r = .491). Reporting more eating disorder pathology, a longer follow-up period and pre-operative super-obesity (body mass index ≥ 50 kg/m2) at the time of surgery were associated with poorer weight loss (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Eating disorder pathology, loss of control over eating and avoidant behavior due to poor body image, as well as depressive symptoms and impulsivity, (as reported postoperatively) are associated with suboptimal weight loss. Level III: Case-control analytic study.

Psychological symptoms, early maladaptive schemas and schema modes: predictors of the outcome of group schema therapy in patients with personality disorders.

Objective: This naturalistic study examined the outcomes of group schema therapy for patients with personality disorders (PD) and the effect of psychological symptoms, early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and schema modes on outcome.Method: Assessments were made of 194 patients at baseline, during treatment, at treatment termination and at three-month follow-up. We used the Symptom Checklist-General Severity Index (SCL-GSI) to measure the remission-rate of global psychological distress and as a dependent variable in a multilevel model to conduct univariate and multiple variate analyses.Results: The research sample achieved medium symptom reduction (pre-post d = 0.65, 95% CI [0.39-0.91]) and the remission rate was about 30% after 60 sessions. These results remained stable at three-month follow-up (pre-follow-up d = 0.61, 95% CI [0.29-0.94]; 28.9%). Higher baseline scores on the SCL scale interpersonal sensitivity, the EMS defectiveness/shame and all the maladaptive schema modes together predicted improvements in global psychological distress after treatment.Conclusions: A long-term form of group schema therapy proved effective for a broad group of patients with PD. Internalizing symptoms seems predictive for improvement at outcome. Almost a third of the patients achieved remission. There is therefore room for improvement, possibly by increasing dose or intensity in combination with individual sessions.

Psychotherapy or medication for depression? Using individual symptom meta-analyses to derive a Symptom-Oriented Therapy (SOrT) metric for a personalised psychiatry.

BACKGROUND: Antidepressant medication (ADM) and psychotherapy are effective treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD). It is unclear, however, if treatments differ in their effectiveness at the symptom level and whether symptom information can be utilised to inform treatment allocation. The present study synthesises comparative effectiveness information from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of ADM versus psychotherapy for MDD at the symptom level and develops and tests the Symptom-Oriented Therapy (SOrT) metric for precision treatment allocation. METHODS: First, we conducted systematic review and meta-analyses of RCTs comparing ADM and psychotherapy at the individual symptom level. We searched PubMed Medline, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, a database specific for psychotherapy RCTs, and looked for unpublished RCTs. Random-effects meta-analyses were applied on sum-scores and for individual symptoms for the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) measures. Second, we computed the SOrT metric, which combines meta-analytic effect sizes with patients' symptom profiles. The SOrT metric was evaluated using data from the Munich Antidepressant Response Signature (MARS) study (n = 407) and the Emory Predictors of Remission in Depression to Individual and Combined Treatments (PReDICT) study (n = 234). RESULTS: The systematic review identified 38 RCTs for qualitative inclusion, 27 and 19 for quantitative inclusion at the sum-score level, and 9 and 4 for quantitative inclusion on individual symptom level for the HAM-D and BDI, respectively. Neither meta-analytic strategy revealed significant differences in the effectiveness of ADM and psychotherapy across the two depression measures. The SOrT metric did not show meaningful associations with other clinical variables in the MARS sample, and there was no indication of utility of the metric for better treatment allocation from PReDICT data. CONCLUSIONS: This registered report showed no differences of ADM and psychotherapy for the treatment of MDD at sum-score and symptom levels. Symptom-based metrics such as the proposed SOrT metric do not inform allocation to these treatments, but predictive value of symptom information requires further testing for other treatment comparisons.

Implementing cognitive behavioral therapy-enhanced in a routine inpatient and outpatient setting: Comparing effectiveness and treatment costs in two consecutive cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Even though evidence-based interventions can enhance clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness, in the field of eating disorders, implementation of empirically supported treatments (ESTs) in routine inpatient and outpatient settings is slow. OBJECTIVE: This study examined differential (cost-) effectiveness, after implementing evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy-enhanced (CBT-E) throughout a Dutch treatment center. METHOD: Two consecutive cohorts of adult patients, BMI between 17.5 and 40, were compared, with one cohort (N = 239) receiving treatment-as-usual (TAU) between 2012 and 2014 and the other (N = 320) receiving CBT-E between 2015 and 2017. RESULTS: Eating disorder pathology, measured with self-reports, decreased significantly in both cohorts; overall, no differences in clinical outcomes between both cohorts were found. Treatment costs and treatment duration were considerably lower in 2015-2017. When limiting the cost analysis to direct costs, there is a 71% likelihood that CBT-E is more cost-effective and a 29% likelihood that CBT-E leads to fewer remissions at lower costs, based on the distribution of the cost-effectiveness plane. The likelihood that TAU leads to lower costs is 0%. DISCUSSION: Findings show that implementing an EST throughout inpatient and outpatient settings leads to lower costs with similar treatment effect and has the advantage of shorter treatment duration and a shorter inpatient stay.

The influence of depressive symptoms on the effectiveness of a short-term group form of Schema Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for personality disorders: a naturalistic study.

BACKGROUND: This naturalistic study examined the outcomes of Short-Term Schema Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in groups with personality disorders, and with high and low severity of depressive symptoms. METHODS: Assessments were made at baseline, at mid-treatment (week 10), at treatment termination (week 20) and at three-month follow-up (week 32) of 225 patients with personality disorders and high severity of depressive symptoms (PD-Hi) and patients with low severity of depressive symptoms (PD-Lo). The assessments focused on symptom (Symptom Checklist-90) and schema severity (Young Schema Questionnaire) and coping styles (Utrecht Coping List). We also measured the rate of symptom remission. The data obtained were subjected to multilevel analysis. RESULTS: Psychiatric symptoms and maladaptive schemas improved in both patient groups. Effect sizes were moderate, and even small for the coping styles. Symptom remission was achieved in the minority of the total sample. Remission in psychiatric symptomatology was seen in more PD-Lo patients at treatment termination. However, the difference in levels of remission between the two patient groups was no longer apparent at follow-up. CONCLUSION: A short-term form of schema therapy in groups proved to be an effective approach for a broad group of patients with personality disorders. However, the majority of patients did not achieve symptom remission. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Day hospital mentalization-based treatment v. specialist treatment as usual in patients with borderline personality disorder: randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Day hospital mentalization-based treatment (MBT-DH) is a promising treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD) but its evidence base is still limited. This multi-site randomized trial compared the efficacy of MBT-DH delivered by a newly set-up service v. specialist treatment as usual (S-TAU) tailored to the individual needs of patients, and offered by a well-established treatment service. METHODS: Two mental healthcare institutes in The Netherlands participated in the study. Patients who met DSM-IV criteria for BPD and had a score of ⩾20 on the borderline personality disorder severity index (BPDSI) were randomly allocated to MBT-DH (N = 54) or S-TAU (N = 41). The primary outcome variable was the total score on the BPDSI. Secondary outcome variables included symptom severity, quality of life, and interpersonal functioning. Data were collected at baseline and every 6 months until 18-month follow-up, and were analyzed using multilevel analyses based on intention-to-treat principles. RESULTS: Both treatments were associated with significant improvements in all outcome variables. MBT-DH was not superior to S-TAU on any outcome variable. MBT-DH was associated with higher acceptability in BPD patients compared v. S-TAU, reflected in significantly higher early drop-out rates in S-TAU (34%) v. MBT-DH (9%). CONCLUSIONS: MBT-DH delivered by a newly set-up service is as effective as specialist TAU in The Netherlands in the treatment of BPD at 18-month follow-up. Further research is needed to investigate treatment outcomes in the longer term and the cost-effectiveness of these treatments.

Optimizing psychotherapy dosage for comorbid depression and personality disorders (PsyDos): a pragmatic randomized factorial trial using schema therapy and short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with comorbid depression and personality disorders suffer from a heavy disease burden while tailored treatment options are limited, accounting for a high psychological and economic burden. Little is known about the effect of treatment dosage and type of psychotherapy for this specific co-morbid patient population, in terms of treatment-effect and cost-effectiveness. This study aims to compare treatment outcome of 25 versus 50 individual therapy sessions in a year. We expect the 50-session condition to be more effective in treating depression and maintaining the effect. Secondary objectives will be addressed in order to find therapy-specific and non-specific mechanisms of change. METHODS: In a mono-center pragmatic randomized controlled trial with a 2 × 2 factorial design, 200 patients with a depressive disorder and personality disorder(s) will be included. Patients will be recruited from a Dutch mental health care institute for personality disorders. They will be randomized over therapy dosage (25 vs 50 sessions in a year) and type of therapy (schema therapy vs short-term psychodynamic supportive psychotherapy). The primary clinical outcome measure will be depression severity and remission. Changes in personality functioning and quality of life will be investigated as secondary outcomes. A priori postulated effect moderators and mediators will be collected as well. All patients are assessed at baseline and at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9-12 months (end of therapy) and at follow up (6 and 12 months after end of treatment). Alongside the trial, an economic evaluation will be conducted. Costs will be collected from a societal perspective. DISCUSSION: This trial will be the first to compare two psychotherapy dosages in patients with both depression and personality disorders. Insight in the effect of treatment dosage for this patient group will contribute to both higher treatment effectiveness and lower costs. In addition, this study will contribute to the limited evidence base on treating patients with both depression and personality disorders. Understanding the processes that account for the therapeutic changes could help to gain insight in what works for whom. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial has been registered on July 20th 2016, Netherlands Trial Register, part of the Dutch Cochrane Centre ( NTR5941 ).

The burden of disease in patients eligible for mentalization-based treatment (MBT): quality of life and costs.

BACKGROUND: Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) is a promising, though expensive treatment for severely ill patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). A high burden of disease in terms of quality of life (QoL) and life years lost can be a reason to prioritize mental health interventions, and specifically for BPD patients. Moreover, when the societal costs of the illness are high, spending resources on high treatment costs would be more easily legitimized. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to calculate the burden of disease of BPD patients eligible for MBT. METHODS: The 403 patients included in this study were recruited from two mental health care institutes in the Netherlands. All patients were eligible for MBT. Burden of disease consisted of QoL, measured with the EuroQol EQ-5D-3L, and costs, calculated using the Trimbos and Institute for Medical Technology Assessment Questionnaire for Costs Associated with Psychiatric Illness. RESULTS: The mean QoL index score was .48. The mean total costs in the year prior to treatment were €16,879 per patient, of which 21 % consisted of productivity costs. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of disease in BPD patients eligible for MBT is high, which makes it more likely that society is willing to invest in treatment for these patients. However, this finding should not be interpreted as a license to unlimitedly use resources to reimburse treatment for severe BPD patients, as these findings do not provide any information on the effectiveness of MBT or other available treatment programs for BPD. The effectiveness of available treatments should be evident by studies on the effectiveness of the treatment itself and by comparing the effectiveness of these treatments to treatment as usual and to other treatment options for BPD patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The data on this paper came from two trials: NTR2175 and NTR2292 .

Feedback-informed treatment in emergency psychiatry; a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Immediate patient feedback has been shown to improve outcomes for patients in mild distress but it is unclear whether psychiatric patients in severe distress benefit equally from feedback. This study investigates the efficacy of an immediate feedback instrument in the treatment of patients with acute and severe psychosocial or psychiatric problems referred in the middle of a crisis. METHODS: A naturalistic mixed diagnosis sample of patients (N = 370) at a Psychiatric Emergency Centre was randomised to a Treatment-as-Usual (TAU) or a Feedback (FB) condition. In the FB condition, feedback on patient progress was provided on a session-by-session basis to both therapists and patients. Outcomes of the two treatment conditions were compared using repeated measures MANCOVA, Last Observation Carried Forward and multilevel analysis. RESULTS: After 3 months, symptom improvement in FB (ES 0.60) did not significantly differ from TAU (ES 0.71) (p = 0.505). After 6 weeks, FB patients (ES 0.31) actually improved less than TAU patients (0.56) (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with psychiatric problems and severe distress seeking emergency psychiatric help did not benefit from direct feedback. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Register, NTR3168 , date of registration 1-9-2009.

Pathways through care of severely mentally ill individuals experiencing multiple public crisis events: a qualitative description.

BACKGROUND: Patients experiencing severe mental illnesses (SMI) need continuing support and remain vulnerable in many domains. Crisis interventions and compulsory admissions are common, causing a huge burden on police, health workers, the community and patients. The aim of this retrospective case-file study is to determine profiles of SMI-patients and their pathways through care among those experiencing multiple public crisis events. METHODS: Data from a larger study of 323 SMI-patients in Amsterdam were used. These data were linked to data of the public mental health care (PMHC) in order to identify persons that experienced crisis interventions (CI's) between January 2004 and November 2012. The cut-off point for inclusion in the study population was set on three CI's, resulting in a group of 47 SMI-patients. PMHC and mental health care (MHC) data were linked in order to identify profiles in patterns of care. Qualitative content analysis was used to gather and analyze chronological timelines. RESULTS: Three profiles were identified: SMI-patients with CI's during continuous MHC, SMI-patients with CI's after discharge and SMI-patients with CI's during unstable MHC. For each profile events prior to, during and after a CI were identified. CONCLUSIONS: PMHC and MHC can possibly identify cases with a high risk of CI's and predict these events based on the results of this study. CI's seem inevitable for a group of SMI-patients in care but they do not only require acute psychiatric care. The collaboration between MHC, PMHC and police could be further developed in a quick and effective triage in order to tackle the complexity of problems of the SMI-patients.