Aims and method: To evaluate whether a brief training using a Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) model improves attitudes of trainee psychiatrists working with patients with personality disorder. Trainee psychiatrists (n = 49) completed the Attitudes to Personality Disorder Questionnaire before and after a training consisting of two 3 h lectures on (a) theory of personality disorder and (b) practical skills using an MBT role-play.
Results: There was a significant improvement on composite scores of attitude, with small to moderate effect size (Wilcoxon signed-rank test Z = 3.961, P < 0.001, r = 0.40).
Clinical implications: Brief MBT-informed teaching oriented to the clinical situation appears to have a positive effect on attitudes towards people with personality disorder.
Keywords: Borderline personality disorder; Mentalization-Based Treatment; attitudes to personality disorder; clinical skills; education and training.