Effectiveness of Mentalization based Therapy on Ego-Strength and Defense Mechanisms in People with Borderline Personality Disorder

Ego-strength and defense mechanisms are key concepts in the psychoanalytic approaches, which are important in the etiology of borderline personality disorder. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of mentalization based therapy (MBT) on ego-strength and defense mechanisms of people with borderline personality disorder. This was an experimental study using pretest-posttest design with a control group and follow up stage. The research sample consisted of 30 men with borderline personality disorder selected by purposive sampling and were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. MBT was performed for the experimental group. Three stages (pretest, posttest and follow up) were used to collect data from psychological inventory ego strength designed by Markstrom et al. and defense styles purposed by Andrews and colleagues. The results showed that MBT was markedly effective in improving the ego strength and defense mechanisms of people with borderline personality disorder. MBT is a suitable strategy for improving the ego-strength and reducing neurotic and immature defense mechanisms of people with borderline personality disorder and can be used as an effective intervention method.