Comparison of Mentalization-Based Therapy and Attachment-Based Therapy on Sleep Quality in Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder
Keywords:
Borderline Personality Disorder, Mentalization-Based Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Sleep QualityAbstract
This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of mentalization-based therapy and attachment-based therapy on improving sleep quality in individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. This research employed a quasi-experimental design with two experimental groups and one control group, conducted across pretest, posttest, and two-month follow-up stages. The statistical population consisted of individuals aged 18–35 with a clinical diagnosis of borderline personality disorder who had been referred to psychological centers in Mashhad in 2024. Using purposive sampling, 45 eligible participants were selected and randomly assigned to three groups: Mentalization-Based Therapy (n = 15), Attachment-Based Therapy (n = 15), and Control (n = 15). The Borderline Personality Disorder Scale (BSL-23) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used for assessment. Interventions were implemented over weekly sessions based on established therapeutic protocols. Data analysis was conducted using mixed-design ANOVA with adherence to statistical assumptions. Mauchly’s test confirmed the assumption of sphericity for sleep-related variables. Multivariate ANOVA results indicated significant differences among groups across assessment stages for sleep problems (Wilks’ Lambda = 0.176, F = 95.657, p < .001). Within-subjects tests showed a significant main effect of time (F = 185.253, p < .001), demonstrating meaningful changes in sleep problems across measurement stages. A significant interaction between time and group (F = 36.012, p < .001) revealed that improvement trajectories differed between groups. Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons showed significant reductions in sleep problems from pretest to posttest and follow-up (p < .001), with stability of outcomes over time. Between-group comparisons indicated that both mentalization-based and attachment-based therapies were significantly more effective than the control condition, while the two interventions did not differ significantly from each other.
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