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Individual-context interaction as a guide in the treatment of personality disorders

APA Citation

Hummelen, J. W., & Rokx, T. A. J. J. (2007). Individual-context interaction as a guide in the treatment of personality disorders. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 71(1), 42-55.

Publication Topic
ACT: Conceptual
Publication Type
Article
Language
English
Abstract

The diagnosis and treatment of personality disorders is strongly influenced by personality theories based on trait models, and the influence of the context is relatively neglected. Developments within psychology and neurobiology have led to the awareness that the manner in which personality characteristics are expressed is strongly determined by interaction with the context. The clinical implications of these developments are set out and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ( Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999) is highlighted as a development within psychotherapy that is linked to a contextual diagnosis. Employment réintégration of patients with personality disorders is presented as an example of a context-oriented approach. Neurobiological insights support the idea that active focusing on the outer world reduces negative affects