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Positive schemas in schema therapy with older adults: clinical implications and research suggestions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2020

Arjan C. Videler Open the ORCID record for Arjan C. Videler [Opens in a new window] ,
Rita J.J. van Royen ,
Marjolein J.H. Legra  and
Machteld A. Ouwens
Arjan C. Videler*
Affiliation:
PersonaCura, GGz Breburg, Tilburg, The Netherlands Tranzo Department, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Rita J.J. van Royen
Affiliation:
Centre for Psychotherapy, Beuningen, The Netherlands
Marjolein J.H. Legra
Affiliation:
PersonaCura, GGz Breburg, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Machteld A. Ouwens
Affiliation:
PersonaCura, GGz Breburg, Tilburg, The Netherlands Tranzo Department, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
*
*Corresponding author. Email: a.videler@ggzbreburg.nl
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Abstract

Background:

Schema therapy is an effective treatment for borderline personality disorder and other complex disorders. Schema therapy is feasible in older adults, and the first empirical support for its effectiveness in later life was provided in older patients with a cluster C personality disorder. The central concept of the schema therapy model is the early maladaptive schema (EMS). Early adaptive schemas (EAS) give rise to adaptive behaviour, and they also emerge during childhood, when core emotional needs are adequately met by primary caregivers.

Aims:

To examine the concept of EAS and its application in schema therapy with older adults.

Method:

Literature review and case example: the role of EAS in schema therapy with older adults is discussed and suggestions for integrating EAS in schema therapy in later life are proposed.

Results:

Directing attention in therapy to EAS may help strengthen the healthy adult mode, and it might also help change a negative life review. Working with positive schemas may be an important avenue for re-awakening positive aspects of patients, reinforcing the therapeutic relationship, creating a positive working atmosphere, and also for facilitating the introduction of experiential schema therapy techniques.

Conclusions:

This review suggests that positive schemas may be important vehicles of therapeutic change when working with older people. There is a need for validating the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ) in older adults, and for examining whether integrating EAS in schema therapy with older adults indeed has a positive effect on therapy outcome.

Keywords

older adultspositive schemasschema therapy
Type
Empirically Grounded Clinical Interventions
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 48 , Issue 4 , July 2020 , pp. 481 - 491
Copyright
© British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2020

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