Inpatient psychotherapy for complex personality pathology: The long-term development of symptoms, well-being and schema modes

Problem: Inpatient psychotherapy can offer positive treatment outcomes for people with complex personality pathology who do not benefit from outpatient treatment. Little is known about how the development of schema modes during treatment relates to long-term development of symptoms, well-being and schema modes.

Method: This study employed a naturalistic, exploratory, within-subject design with long-term follow-up (LFU) measurement 2–8 years after discharge. Course and correlation of symptoms, well-being and schema modes were examined through multilevel analyses.

Results: Best scores on symptoms, well-being and schema modes were at LFU. The higher the baseline level and the greater the results achieved on schema modes during treatment, the more positive the course of symptoms and well-being becomes during treatment and in the long term.

Conclusion: This study shows that results achieved on symptoms, well-being and schema modes during inpatient psychotherapy treatment persist and even continue to improve two to eight years after treatment.