A comparison of 24-session cognitive analytic therapy and treatment as usual for participants with a personality disorder

Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) for personality disorder: a randomised controlled trial comparing time-limited 24-session CAT versus treatment as usual

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN79596618

Enrollment

Registered

2012-05-30

Start date

2001-01-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2015-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Personality Disorders Mental and Behavioural Disorders Disorders of adult personality and behaviour

Interventions

The intervention group received 24 sessions of Cognitive Analytic Therapy over 10 months as a treatment for Personality Disorder and were followed-up 18 months after the completion of the study. The

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Adult participants who met diagnostic criteria for a personality disorder 2. Participants who had completed at least one previous episode of therapy

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Psychotic illness, substance dependence [as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)] and intellectual disability 2. Participants who engaged in self-harming behaviour at least monthly were excluded, and referred for Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II (SCID-II) to assess symptoms of personality disorder pre-therapy/TAU, post-therapy/TAU, and follow-up for the CAT condition only. To measure distress arising from interpersonal difficulties, we used a self-report questionnaire, The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems: 32-item (IIP). This was measured pre- and post- intervention for both groups, and at follow-up for the CAT group.	—

Measure

Time frame

Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II (SCID-II) to assess symptoms of personality disorder pre-therapy/TAU, post-therapy/TAU, and follow-up for the CAT condition only. To measure distress arising from interpersonal difficulties, we used a self-report questionnaire, The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems: 32-item (IIP). This was measured pre- and post- intervention for both groups, and at follow-up for the CAT group.

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Adjustment, measured using the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE) self-report measure 2. Service satisfaction, measured using the Service Satisfaction Scale self-report questionnaire 3. Dissociation, measured using the Dissociative Questionnaire and the Dissociate Experiences Scale (DES) self-report questionnaires 4. Psychological problems and symptoms of psychopathology, measured by the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised self-report measure 5. Emotional Distress, measured by the Global Severity Index. All questionnaires were completed pre- and post-intervention, and at follow-up for the CAT group 6. Frequency and duration of all accident and emergency attendances and in-patient admissions, measured through access to the Dorset HealthCare NHS Trust Participant Administration System	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Adjustment, measured using the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE) self-report measure 2. Service satisfaction, measured using the Service Satisfaction Scale self-report questionnaire 3. Dissociation, measured using the Dissociative Questionnaire and the Dissociate Experiences Scale (DES) self-report questionnaires 4. Psychological problems and symptoms of psychopathology, measured by the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised self-report measure 5. Emotional Distress, measured by the Global Severity Index. All questionnaires were completed pre- and post-intervention, and at follow-up for the CAT group 6. Frequency and duration of all accident and emergency attendances and in-patient admissions, measured through access to the Dorset HealthCare NHS Trust Participant Administration System

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Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Mar 24, 2026