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01-03-2019 | Original Paper

Specialized Treatment for Patients with Severe Avoidant Personality Disorder: Experiences from Scandinavia

Authors: Sebastian Simonsen, Ingeborg Ullveit-Moe Eikenæs, Nana Lund Nørgaard, Eivind Normann-Eide, Sophie Juul, Theresa Wilberg

Published in: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) is a common and heterogeneous disorder. In spite of this, few studies have focused on treatment, and treatment guidelines have not been developed. In Scandinavian countries many patients with low levels of AvPD are treated sufficiently in private practices or in briefer psychiatric treatments, often for anxiety or depression. However, patients with higher levels of personality dysfunction are often not helped sufficiently by such treatments. In this paper we describe a longer and more intense treatment for severe AvPD based on a combination of Mentalization-Based Group Psychotherapy and Metacognitive Interpersonal Individual Therapy. This treatment has been piloted in Norway and Denmark, and we provide a case example of a successful treatment of a patient, “Julie” treated at Stolpegaard Psychotherapy Centre in Denmark. Based on our review of the literature and experiences from the pilot studies, we also provide some observations and general guidelines about important aspects of treatment of severe AvPD.

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Title: Specialized Treatment for Patients with Severe Avoidant Personality Disorder: Experiences from Scandinavia
Authors: Sebastian Simonsen
Ingeborg Ullveit-Moe Eikenæs
Nana Lund Nørgaard
Eivind Normann-Eide
Sophie Juul
Theresa Wilberg
Publication date: 01-03-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 0022-0116
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-018-9395-x

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Specialized Treatment for Patients with Severe Avoidant Personality Disorder: Experiences from Scandinavia

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