1 - (SYM 89) Patient Perceptions of a Modular, Personality-based Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder

BPD Compass (Sauer-Zavala et al., 2023) is a novel, personality-based intervention designed to address personality mechanisms maintaining borderline personality disorder (BPD): negative affectivity, antagonism (low agreeableness), and disinhibition (low conscientiousness). BPD Compass is delivered across 18 weekly sessions and consists of four skill domains (i.e., values, cognitive flexibility, behavioral skills, and mindfulness). In a recent trial, BPD  Compass led to larger reductions in BPD symptoms and neuroticism, but not antagonism or disinhibition, compared to a waitlist control (Sauer-Zavala et al., 2023). We conducted one-on-one follow-up interviews with patients who recently completed treatment with BPD Compass to assess perceptions of the treatment. Specifically, we assessed patient perceptions of the treatment modules and whether patients felt the treatment adequately addressed their needs, was personalizable, and how BPD Compass compared to previous treatments they have completed. Patient’s perspectives on treatment modules are important considerations before disseminating personalized, modular treatment to ensure their application in clinical practice. Participants (n = 42, 47.6% Female, 73.8% white, 40.5% heterosexual) were highly satisfied with the treatment, finding it to be flexible, and better equipped to address their needs in comparison to previous treatment. For example, participants stated, “being able to personalize the chapters and homework so it wasn’t a cookie cutter experience” was the most helpful aspect of treatment. Another said, “This treatment helped address the wide range of emotions I experience and also helped me work on strengthening and regulating my relationships”. Overall, participants found BPD Compass to be a useful treatment that adequately addressed their therapeutic needs. Patients also found the order of modules to be acceptable and presented in a manner that built upon the previous module. Taken together, modular, personality-based treatments have clinical utility from the patient perspective.