Abstract

PADILLA TORRES, Diego; MARTINEZ MARTIN, Nuria; ESPIN JAIME, José Carlos  and  JIMENEZ ARRIERO, Miguel Ángel. Group therapy for adolescents with severe personality disorders: a contextual approach. Rev. Asoc. Esp. Neuropsiq. [online]. 2017, vol.37, n.132, pp.349-378. ISSN 2340-2733.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/s0211-57352017000200003.

The present work focuses on severe mental disorders in adolescence; and more specifically on personality disorders. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) has proven effective in teenagers with these disorders. Among contextual therapies, DBT aims to reduce serious behaviour disorders, emphasizing skills training. The therapeutic relationship is one of the key components of successful treatment of personality pathology in adolescents. DBT has a greater effect combined with other contextual therapies, such as Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP). The purpose of this paper is to show how FAP in combination with the latest technical advances in other contextual therapies, brings about clinical improvement in adolescents with severe personality disorders. Four teenagers, between 13 and 17 years old, diagnosed with a severe mental disorder and meeting some criteria for personality disorders, received treatment in an outpatient setting. The main symptoms evaluated were: high impulsivity, suicide attempts, self-injury, self and heteroagressivity, psychotic symptoms, and problems of the self. Patients were assessed with the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI). After a four-month intervention, a decrease in the MACI Clinical scales was observed. We also found an improvement in cognition, suicidal tendencies, emotional regulation, and experience of self.

Keywords : severe mental illness; adolescents; Functional Analytic Psychotherapy; mindfulness; values; acceptance.

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