Individual psychodrama therapy with an auxiliary ego for Borderline personality disorder: a hermeneutic single-case efficacy design study

Abstract This study, published in the Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie (ZPS), evaluates the effectiveness of individual psychodrama therapy with an auxiliary ego for treating Borderline personality disorder (BPD) using the hermeneutic single-case efficacy design (HSCED). The research followed a 33-year-old male patient through 54 sessions over 17 months. Results demonstrated substantial improvements in psychological distress, particularly in work-related stress, emotional regulation, and substance use, with most gains occurring during the first nine months. While symptoms fluctuated throughout treatment, reflecting the dynamic nature of BPD, the therapeutic alliance remained consistently strong. This study demonstrates both the value of HSCED in capturing nuanced therapeutic changes in BPD treatment and the potential effectiveness of psychodrama therapy for this clinical population.