B-DIT Feasibility Study

This study aims to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a new blended psychotherapeutic treatment program based on Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (B-DIT) for adult clients with personality pathology. B-DIT integrates face-to-face (FTF) therapy and online modules into a cohesive treatment program, offering potential advantages in terms of treatment accessibility and cost-effectiveness for individuals with personality pathology. Additionally, blended interventions may have added value compared to traditional FTF approaches by fostering a greater sense of agency and ownership among clients regarding their treatment. While e-health and blended interventions have demonstrated promising treatment outcomes across various mental health areas, there is limited evidence for interventions targeting personality pathology.

B-DIT, developed collaboratively by Dutch mental health care institute De Viersprong and OnlinePsyHulp, addresses this gap and provides a blended intervention for clients with mild to moderately severe personality pathology. The program spans three phases: an individual phase lasting approximately two months, followed by a four-month group phase, and concluding with a four-month booster phase to reinforce positive changes. Face-to-face therapy sessions and online treatment modules are utilized alternately and complementarily throughout all treatment phases.

The primary study aims are (1) to monitor and evaluate the feasibility of B-DIT; which includes evaluating client satisfaction, treatment drop-out rates, user parameters related to online modules, and conducting a qualitative analysis of therapists' and clients' experiences; and (2) to gather initial effectiveness data based on Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM) measurements, complemented by a Single Case Experimental Design (SCED). The SCED allows drawing conclusions about effectiveness based on a relatively small sample, while accommodating potential refinements to the intervention during the study period. The following research questions will be addressed:

• How acceptable is a blended treatment program, Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (B-DIT), for adult clients with personality pathology and for their therapists?
• How effective is B-DIT for adult clients with personality pathology in terms of progress in improving symptom burden, overall functioning, and personality functioning, along with changes in process measures (mentalizing ability, epistemic trust, agency)?
• Exploratively, the effects on these process and outcome measures across treatment phases will be compared to determine if observed changes are consistent with the presumed working mechanisms of the intervention.

Participants in the study will receive care as usual. In complement to regular Routine Outcome Monitoring assessments as integrated part of treatment, participants will be asked to complete an additional 26-item questionnaire repeatedly during their treatment and over a one year follow-up period in a Single Case Experimental Design with four phases:

Phase A - Baseline Waiting List (before start of treatment) - with a minimum of 3 weeks; Phase B - Intensive treatment phase (10 weeks of individual treatment followed by 30 weeks of group treatment) - 30 weeks; Phase C - Booster treatment phase - 16 weeks; Phase D - Follow-up phase after the end of treatment - 12 months.

The (impact of) expectations with regards to their treatment will be assessed at baseline and at end of treatment. Clients and clinicians will be questioned about their experiences in the treatment program (at the end of treatment) by means of semi-structured qualitative interviews.

Inclusion criteria

for treatment referral:

• 18 years of age or older
• mild to moderately severe impairments in personality functioning, including both cluster B and cluster C personality problems as well as a mixed presentation within unspecified personality disorder.

General exclusion criteria for treatment at the Viersprong:

• insufficient proficiency in the Dutch language
• no permanent place of residence
• intellectual disability (IQ < 80)
• organic brain disorder
• autism spectrum disorders
• schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder
• (untreated) eating disorder, extreme obesity, or a BMI < 17.5
• (untreated) addiction.

Additional exclusion criteria for the B-DIT treatment:

• acute risk of crisis requiring stabilizing/crisis interventions
• Severe PTSD or the severe range of personality problems (structural: low-level borderline organization).

There are no additional inclusion/exclusion criteria for participation in the study, other than those that apply to treatment.