Examination of changes in psychodynamic art psychotherapy process of patients with borderline personality disorder

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine of changes in the individual psychodynamic art therapy process of patients with borderline personality disorder. Method: The study was designed in the longitudinal survey model. In this study, the changes in psychodynamic psychotherapy process of 11 patients with BPD were examined. Patients who participated in psychotherapy for at least 4 years were included in the study. The psychotherapy process based on object relations model which is conducted with individual art psychotherapy approach was used by a psychotherapist experienced in psychodynamic art psychotherapy. The frequency of psychotherapy interviews with patients changed between 1 and 3 times a week, and a psychiatrist periodically examined the patient. Supervision was provided during the psychotherapy process. In the psychotherapy process, the behaviors of the patients, the issues they raised, the feelings they experienced and shared during the session, and the attitude of the psychotherapist were recorded through the Psychotherapy Process Observation List. SPSS 22.0 package program is used for data analysis. Results: In this study, it was observed that patients continued their psychotherapy for 6-8 years, and it is seen that there is a change in the aggressive and maladaptive behaviors of the patients, the emotions, the subjects, the patients and the therapist's attitudes during the psychotherapy process. At the beginning of psychotherapy, aggressive, self-mutilative and disrupting behaviors were observed. Despite the decrease in aggression and fighting behavior in the third year, there was an increase in behaviors that disrupt the therapy limits and forced the therapy. The therapist was also worried about desperation and losing control. On the other hand, it is observed statistically that the patients continue to have psychotherapy and the symptoms have decreased significantly in the end of the period. Discussion: The most important result emphasized by this study is that the psychotherapy of BPs is not silent and calm, intense emotional fluctuations can center the therapist and the patient, and that both the patient and the therapist's behavior change together in the long term psychotherapy process and it is important to focus on the therapy relationship in terms of both sides.