https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8058-762X
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ABSTRACT
Objective
Improvement in patients’ mentalizing capacities is considered a possible mechanism of change in psychotherapy. This improvement might take place via mentalization-enhancing interventions (MEIs) performed by psychotherapists. The study aimed to explore the use of MEIs in two evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatments for patients with anorexia nervosa (enhanced cognitive-behavior therapy, focal psychodynamic therapy) and their association with the patients’ capacity to mentalize in sessions (“in-session reflective functioning” / in-session RF). Additionally, it was explored, if the amount of MEIs used could either predict change in in-session RF or outcome (end of treatment, one year follow-up).
Method
84 audiotapes from psychotherapy sessions of 28 patients of the ANTOP-study (three sessions per patient) were transcribed and rated with both the MEI Rating Scale and the In-Session RF Scale by trained raters.
Results
MEIs were applied in both treatments. A moderate correlation between the amount of MEIs and patients’ in-session RF as well as its change over the course of treatment was found, but no relation to change in BMI or eating disorder symptoms.
Conclusion
A greater use of MEIs was related to patients’ in-session-mentalizing. However, there seems to be no simple relation between RF as shown in sessions and symptom change.
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data Availability Statement
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Supplemental data
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2022.2146542