Meeting abstract

https://doi.org/10.24869/spsih.2026.129

Characteristics of the Therapeutic Process in a Personality Disorder Treatment Program – Experiences From the RIO Program

Majda Grah ; University Psychiatric Hospital Sveti Ivan, Jankomir 11, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Crkvena 21, 31000 Osijek, Croatia; University of Applied Health Sciences, Mlinarska ulica 38, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia *
Branka Restek-Petrović ; PRIMAMED Special Hospital, Frana Folnegovića 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Nina Mayer ; University Psychiatric Hospital Sveti Ivan, Jankomir 11, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan Barun ; University Psychiatric Hospital Sveti Ivan, Jankomir 11, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Željko Milovac ; University Psychiatric Hospital Sveti Ivan, Jankomir 11, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Crkvena 21, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Luka Mijalković ; University Psychiatric Hospital Sveti Ivan, Jankomir 11, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

The outpatient RIO program, with the full name
Reason and Feelings (Croatian: Razum i osjećaji),
was organized and implemented at the “Sveti
Ivan” Psychiatry Clinic twelve years ago. It is
held every year, lasts three months, takes place
twice a week, and combines various therapeutically
effective, evidence-based methods. The RIO
program was initially intended for patients with
borderline personality disorder, but over years of experience, the indications have been expanded
to include some other personality disorders (narcissistic,
mixed). Indications for participation
are assessed individually during an intake (indication)
interview conducted by a psychiatrist
experienced in working in the RIO program. The
program includes twelve sessions each of psychodynamic
group psychotherapy, CBT (DBT) workshops,
art therapy, as well as five psychoeducation
workshops and five film therapy workshops.
Two workshops are devoted to social issues and
are led by a social worker. The entire program
is integrated at weekly therapeutic community
meetings and is supervised twice a month by a supervisor
who does not participate directly in the
program. The aim of the workshop is to present
the specific features of the content and process,
as well as the specific therapeutic interventions in
a homogeneous personality disorder group, and
some aspects of evaluating treatment success. In
interaction with workshop participants, possible
implementation of similar programs in day-hospital
settings in other institutions in Croatia will
be discussed, along with the dynamics of the presented
process and an exchange of experiences in
working with this category of patients. The maximum
number of participants per workshop is 50.

Keywords

art therapy; group psychodynamic psychotherapy; cognitive-behavioral therapy; personality disorders; psychoeducation

Hrčak ID:

352257

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/352257

Publication date:

15.6.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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