THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN ADAPTED SCHEMA GROUP THERAPY FOR OLDER ADULTS WITH PERSONALITY DISORDERS

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SCHEMA GROUP THERAPY IN OLDER OUTPATIENTS. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether an adaption of the SCBT-g protocol with gerotopics will enhance the effectiveness of SCBT-g in a group of older adults with one or more PDs.

The aim of the current study is to evaluate whether an adaption of the SCBT-g protocol with gerotopics will enhance the effectiveness of SCBT-g in a group of older adults suffering from one or more PDs. Based on the hypotheses in the literature (van Alphen et al., 2012; Videler et al., 2014; Videler et al., 2015; Videler et al., in press), the following adjustments are made: a) take more time to learn the schema language and train the cognitive techniques; b) using examples that fit in to the experience of older adults; c) integrate experiential techniques like imagery and rescripting; d) compensating the decline of social support by encouraging the group cohesion whereby the therapist acts as a parent and the participants take the role of siblings and include the support system; e) add treatment strategies on the modes (e.g. group imagery, improvisation) and f) contextualize to a life course perspective by integrating wisdom enhancement and stimulating worth enhancing beliefs. After the adapted form of SCBT-g treatment we expect to find a decline of symptomatic distress, EMS and mode severity and more adaptive personality functioning. In addition, we expect to find a greater treatment effect in comparison to the earlier study by Videler et al. (2014).

pre-, mid- and post-test

The short-term group therapy consists of 20 sessions, 18 weekly sessions of 90 minutes and 2 booster sessions of 90 minutes, one and two months after termination of treatment.