Cognitive Remediation Therapy for borderline personality disorder: is it a feasible and acceptable treatment? A pilot study of two single cases. (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reeder, Clare; Stevens, Peter; Liddement, James; Huddy, Vyv
• Is Part Of: Cognitive behaviour therapist. Volume 7(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: Borderline personality disorder, -- case studies, -- cognitive remediation, -- neuropsychology; Cognitive therapy -- Periodicals; Behaviorism (Psychology) | -- Periodicals; 616.891425
• DOI: 10.1017/S1754470X14000130
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1754-470X

Abstract

Abstract: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is associated with problems in attention, memory, planning and cognitive flexibility, which may underpin aspects of behavioural dysregulation. Cognitive remediation (CR) is an individual psychological therapy which aims to improve thinking skills and thus positively impact everyday functioning. We aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of CR for two BPD patients who had not previously engaged with psychological therapy. Participants were assessed using neuropsychological, symptom and social functioning measures and then received up to 40 sessions of individual CR. They were re-assessed post-therapy and 3 months later, and rated their experience of CR. The participants reported increased self-esteem and improved memory. Neuropsychological tests showed executive functioning improvements post-therapy, which were partially maintained at follow-up. CR was a feasible and acceptable therapeutic approach for these two participants and may hold promise as a complementary therapeutic approach for BPD characterized by marked cognitive problems or difficulty in engaging in more emotionally focused psychotherapies.