Psychotherapeutic Change in Intensive Day Treatment for Personality Disorders: A Single Case Study of Quantitative and Qualitative Change in Agency and Communion

A better understanding of psychotherapeutic change is seen as essential for further development of treatment for personality disorders. The objective of this study is to describe the psychotherapeutic change process of a client with personality disorder to develop more insight in psychotherapeutic change processes. The change process was described quantitatively from ROM data and quantitatively and qualitatively from two narrative themes, agency and communion, described from the perspectives of client and treatment team. Reliable change analyses showed decrease in personality problems and increase in personality functioning and mental well-being. Content analyses from the client perspective showed positive changes in meaning, actual behavior change, and connection with others. The treatment team noticed growth in self-management ability and in connecting with own emotions and with others. These changes resulted in an increase in agency and communion. By mapping change processes through multiple sources and perspectives, the efficacy of psychotherapeutic treatment can be better understood.