Metacognitive Training for Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (B-MCT)

Abstract

Abstract. Metacognitive Training for borderline personality disorder (B-MCT) is a low-threshold group intervention program, which targets borderline-specific cognitive biases and aims to ameliorate borderline symptomatology. The goal of the intervention is to help patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) identify and weaken (meta-)cognitive biases (e. g., monocausal reasoning, high-confident responses when interpreting facial expressions) that play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of BPD. Metacognitive training for BPD utilizes a “backdoor approach” by attenuating cognitive biases with entertaining and playful exercises. The training demonstrates patients that cognitive biases are normal to a certain extent, however, can lead to dysfunctional thinking patterns and compromise patient’s judgement when escalated. Preliminary findings confirm the feasibility, acceptance, and efficacy of B-MCT. This article describes the implementation of B-MCT in detail.