Systematic Review on Mentalization as Key Factor in Psychotherapy

Jonas Lüdemann, Sven Rabung and Sylke Andreas
Additional contact information
Jonas Lüdemann: Institute of Psychology, University of Klagenfurt, Universitätsstr. 65-67, 9020 Klagenfurt am Woerthersee, Austria
Sven Rabung: Institute of Psychology, University of Klagenfurt, Universitätsstr. 65-67, 9020 Klagenfurt am Woerthersee, Austria
Sylke Andreas: Institute of Psychology, University of Klagenfurt, Universitätsstr. 65-67, 9020 Klagenfurt am Woerthersee, Austria

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-16

Abstract: Background: Mentalization processes seem to be of high relevance for social learning and seem important in all psychotherapies. The exact role of mentalization processes in psychotherapy is still unknown. The aim of the present systematic review is to investigate whether mentalization is related to the therapeutic outcome and, if so, whether it has a moderating, mediative, or predictive function. Method: A systematic review with an electronic database search was conducted. A total of 2567 records were identified, and 10 studies were included in the final synthesis. Results: Psychotherapy research is still in an initial phase of examining and understanding the impact of mentalization on psychotherapy outcome. The small number of studies and the executed study designs and statistical analyses indicate the possible role that mentalization has in psychotherapy. Conclusion: Generally, strongly elaborated study designs are needed to identify the role of mentalization in psychotherapy. Mentalization seems to be differently represented in differential treatment approaches. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the patient’s mentalizing capacity seems to be relevant to the psychotherapy process. Psychotherapies should be adapted to this.

Keywords: systematic review; mentalization; reflective functioning; psychotherapy; outcome (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/17/9161/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/17/9161/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:9161-:d:625850

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().