PROMISING RESULTS FROM BASE SCHEMA THERAPY TREATMENT!!

Three pilot studies of the intensive 12 week version of Schema Therapy for BPD have been conducted: in Indianapolis at the former BASE Program at Larue Carter Hospital and in Mainz Germany at the University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. The promising results have been submitted for publication and the full text will be available here shortly

In Indianapolis pilot study I of 40  Inpatients at Larue Carter, at the beginning of treatment, 86% were given a BPD diagnosis based on structured psychological tests. At the end of treament only 17% still tested as having BPD!! There were also significant reductions in self-injury, suicide attempts and frequency of hospitalization.

In addition, the treatment program had a greater than 90% approval rating from graduates

Feedback from a Graduate of the BASE Inpatient program at Larue Carter

 "I was in and out of hospitals for over a decade.  I hated them.  I found them humiliating and frightening.  The BASE program was unique because I was treated with respect.  I felt empowered because I participated in my treatment.  I was not punished for my symptoms.  I was valued as an intelligent human being."

DESPITE THE EVALUATION OF OUR PATIENT-CONSUMERS AND THE PROMISING RESEARCH DEMONSTRATING ITS EFFECTIVENESS,  THE ADMINISTRATION OF LARUE CARTER DECIDED IN 2011 TO CLOSE THE BASE PROGRAM AND BPD UNIT. THE HOSPITAL HAS RETURNED TO THE TREATMENT APPROACH FOR PATIENTS WITH BPD THAT THEY WERE USING IN 1997 -  ASSIGNING PATIENTS WITH BPD TO GENERAL PSYCH UNITS WITH PRIMARILY NON-BPD SPECIALIZED TREATMENT. THIS WAS THE APPROACH BEING USED WHEN THEN SUPERINTENDENT DIANA HAUGH, MSN HIRED DR. FARRELL  AS A CONSULTANT TO DEVELOP MORE EFFECTIVE BPD TREATMENT AND WITH THE HELP OF IDA SHAW AND VICKI SILVER - BASE INPATIENT WAS BORN.

AT THIS TIME THE ONLY BASE-SCHEMA THERAPY TREATMENT PROGRAM IN THE USA IS AT MIDTOWN CMHC, WHERE IT IS EXPANDING AND DEMONSTRATING EFFECTIVENESS IN TERMS OF USE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, NEED FOR HOSPITALIZATION AND BPD SYMPTOMS.

 The  BASE - Schema Therapy Treatment Program for BPD has a home at:

MIDTOWN CMHC WESTSIDE CLINIC under the direction of Heather Fretwell, M.D. with the support of Midtown's Medical Director Dr. Jeffrey Kellams and CEO Margie Payne, MSN

Joan Farrell, Ph.D. & Ida Shaw, M.A. are consultants to BASE.

Midtown is the US site of the International Multi-site randomized controlled trial of Group and Individual Schema Therapy for BPD. The other sites are in Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and Scotland.

THE MIDTOWN WESTSIDE CLINIC HAS ALSO BECOME THE HOME FOR THE CENTER FOR BPD TREATMENT & RESEARCH, WHICH IS ALSO AFFILIATED WITH INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE DEPT. OF PSYCHIATRY

Dr. Fretwell is Medical Director of the Center and Dr. Farrell is Training & Research Director.

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