Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy for Intimate Partner Violence: A Single Case Study

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is responsible for significant social, psychological, and financial costs. The challenges in developing approaches that result in long-term change has been well documented. Outcome research into perpetrator treatment often portray varying degrees of success or otherwise. Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy (MIT) offers an alternative approach to working with perpetrators of IPV in focusing on maladaptive interpersonal schemes as the antecedents of acts of violence and aggression. This article outlines a single case study utilizing MIT as the primary approach in working with a 28-year-old male perpetrator of IPV. The patient completed 24 sessions of MIT and results indicated a significant reduction in acts of violence and control. Follow-up at 2 months posttreatment indicated sustained improvement from the beginning of psychotherapy. Enhancing metacognitive capacity can help in reducing the potential for violence against an intimate partner. By focusing on maladaptive schemas, MIT provides a viable approach in the treatment of IPV.

Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: A Single Case Study

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe disease, characterized by severe instabilities in identity, affect and relationships. Clinical improvement of BPD can be facilitated by psychotherapy aimed at tackling multiple specific cross-modality impairments and their patterns of interaction: impaired sense of self, maladaptive interpersonal schemas, impaired metacognition, emotion dysregulation and impulsivity. Herein, we describe the steps in the treatment of a young woman meeting the criteria for with BPD with paranoid traits, successfully treated with Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy, a treatment based on comprehensive assessment of domains. In the initial phase, treatment focused on promoting emotion regulation, integrating opposing patient representations of the therapist, enhancing metacognition, and increasing focus on the maladaptive schema that elicited dysregulated behaviors. Later in therapy, treatment focused on supporting the patient to realize her ideas about self and others were schema-driven; and improving metacognitive capacity to understand others’ minds. General implications for psychotherapy of BPD are discussed.