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Comparison of brief dynamic and cognitive-behavioural therapies in avoidant personality disorder

Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam

Ank Benner, MA, Antoinette Kuipers, MA, Guus A. Feiertag, MD, Harrie C. Koster, MA and Franske J. van Apeldoorn, MA

GGz-Groningen-Zuid,Groningen, The Netherlands

Correspondence: Professor Paul M.G. Emmelkamp,University of Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Psychology, Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Email: P.M.G.Emmelkamp{at}uva.nl

Declaration of interest None.

Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

Background There is a paucity of controlled trials examining the effectiveness of individual psychotherapy in personality disorders, especially in patients with cluster C disorders.

Aims To compare the effectiveness of brief dynamic therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy as out-patient treatment for people with avoidant personality disorder.

Method Patients who metthe criteria for avoidant personality disorder (n=62) were randomly assigned to 20 weekly sessions of either brief dynamic therapy (n=23) or cognitive-behavioural therapy (n=21), or they were assigned to the waiting-listcontrolgroup (n=18). After the waiting period, patients in the control group were randomly assigned to one of the two therapies.

Results Patients who received cognitive-behavioural therapy showed significantly more improvements on a number of measures in comparison with those who had brief dynamic psychotherapyor wereinthe waiting-list control group. Results were maintained at follow-up.

Conclusions Cognitive-behavioural therapyis more effective than waiting-list control and brief dynamic therapy. Brief dynamic therapy was no better than the waiting-listcontrol condition.

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