Mentalization-based psychotherapy for schizophrenic psychoses

Recently, there has been growing interest in new methods of psychotherapeutic interventions for schizophrenic patients. Social cognition, social functioning and quality of life are central objectives. Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) is a specific psychodynamic method developed from the fundament of attachment theory and empirical psychotherapy research for the treatment of borderline personality disorder, particularly focusing on attachment relationships, mentalizing capacity and affect regulation. Studies have shown that MBT is able to ameliorate interpersonal experience and social life. The latest neuroscientific findings support this view and encourage the application of a modified form of MBT in the treatment of schizophrenic patients. The authors present a concept for disorder-specific interventions in schizophrenia, including psychoeducational aspects and mentalizing exercises which step-by-step lead to a more reflective work in mentalization-based group psychotherapy.