Central Meditation and Imagery Therapy for Augmentation of Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Borderline personality disorder is a severe psychiatric disorder marked by emotional instability, difficulty with interpersonal relationships, and self-harming behaviors. Despite receiving psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder, studies show that patient recovery is slow, and there is a high rate of self injury and suicide attempts early in treatment. There is thus a clear need to provide therapies to augment psychotherapy. We will conduct a pilot trial to determine whether a 6-week Central Meditation and Imagery Therapy (CMIT) is feasible for subjects with borderline personality disorder to undergo when added on to psychotherapy treatment. CMIT is a non-validated therapy that combines principles of mindfulness with meditation techniques and guided imagery. Sessions led by a trained clinician in a group setting once a week, and participants are asked to complete daily home practice. The trial will involve 16 participants, all currently undergoing psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a CMIT group that lasts 6 weeks, or a wait list group. Those in the wait list group will be able to receive CMIT after 6 weeks. All participants will continue to receive psychotherapy throughout the trial. During the trial, we will also obtain preliminary data to help understand whether CMIT may result in psychological benefits for participants. This will include measuring the pulse in order to determine variation in beat to beat intervals of the heart during psychological tests, and filling out questionnaires before and after participation in CMIT.

Official Title
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Pilot Study of Central Meditation and Imagery Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder

Conditions
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Borderline Personality Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Central Meditation and Imagery Therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Meeting the diagnostic criteria for BPD according to DSM-IV criteria Meeting the diagnostic criteria for BPD based on the Diagnostic Interview for Borderline - Revised Currently receiving psychotherapy. English language proficiency to understand written and oral communication Exclusion Criteria: Active suicidality or suicidal intent as identified on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale Suicide attempt within the past month

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: meditation<br>Central Meditation and Imagery Therapy | Behavioral: Central Meditation and Imagery Therapy<br>* mindfulness, guided imagery, meditation<br>|
| No Intervention: wait list<br>waiting list | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Borderline Symptoms | Borderline Symptom List | 6 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Depression | Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms | 6 weeks | 
| Anxiety | Trait Anxiety Inventory | 6 weeks | 
| Positive Affect | Positive and Negative Affect Scale | 6 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Borderline Personality Disorder