Adapting group schema therapy for older adults with personality disorders: lessons learnt

Abstract A first empirical study into group schema therapy in older adults with mood disorders and personality disorder (PD) features has shown that brief potential to decrease psychological distress change early maladaptive schemas (EMS). Effect sizes however were smaller than those found similar studies younger adults. Therefore, we set out adapt the treatment protocol for order enhance its feasibility outcome this age group. We examined adapted 29 (mean 66 years) PDs from four Dutch mental health institutes. The primary was symptomatic distress, measured by Brief Symptom Inventory. Secondary outcomes Young Schema Questionnaire, Mode Inventory, short version of Severity Indices Personality Problems. Contrary our expectations, yielded only a small effect size outcome, no significant improvement EMS, modes functioning. Patients pointed they more aware their dysfunctional patterns, but maybe had not been able yet work on behavioural due being too brief. recommend intensive patients PDs, as might benefit sessions, dosage PD patients. They also combination individual sessions. Key learning aims (1) How (2) explore outcome. (3) Treat intensively