Background
Mentalization can be defined as the ability to perceive and reflect on mental states (emotions and motives) in oneself and others. The term has gained a central place in the understanding and treatment of personality disorder (Fonagy, György, L, & Mary, 2002). Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) is a form of therapy originally developed for borderline personality disorder in the UK (Bateman, 2016). A Nordic collaboration was established in connection with the introduction of this form of therapy in the Nordics and a collaboration regarding the establishment of Norwegian manuals (Karterud, 2012; Karterud & Bateman, 2010, 2011). MBT is today an established form of treatment in several Nordic countries and there are several independent institutes for MBT education.
The clinical collaboration has continued and has today a broader, research-oriented purpose. From 2017, the collaboration has been given the name MBT Research Network. The purpose is to create a meeting point for the various research communities, to share, discuss and facilitate research collaboration. Areas of interest are MBT relevant research in the broadest sense and can include:
- Therapy processes and therapy effects in MBT
- Adaptations of MBT to other personality pathology
- MBT in new format
- Case-based and qualitative MBT focus
- Aspects of mentalization in different personality pathologies
- Mentalization in different therapy approaches
Current activities
The MBT research network has annual meetings in the latter part of November. The meetings are organized in Oslo under the auspices of the research group Personality Psychiatry. Young, new and more experienced researchers from all the Nordic countries are welcome to participate.
Contact
Do you have questions about the research network or would you like to be on the e-mail list for the meeting date and programme? Contact: Elfrida H Kvarstein
Reference
- Bateman, A., Fonagy, P. (2016). Mentalization-based treatment for personality disorders. A practical guide: Oxford University Press
- Fonagy, P., György, G., L, J. E., & Mary, T. (2002). Affect regulation, Mentalization and the Development of the Self. New York: Other press.
- Karterud, S. (2012). Manual for mentaliseringsbasert gruppeterapi (MBT-G). Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk.
- Karterud, S., & Bateman, A. (2010). Manual for mentaliseringsbasert terapi (MBT) og MBT vurderingsskala. Versjon individualterapi. Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk.
- Karterud, S., & Bateman, A. (2011). Manual for mentaliseringsbasert psykoedukativ gruppeterapi (MBT- I). Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk.