Relational Exercises in Basic Body Awareness Therapy for Individuals with Personality Disorders: A Patient Perspective

It has been described and showed in research that people with personality disorder (PD) exhibiting problems with the ability to create and maintain a healthy relation to oneself or others. The aim of the present study was to investigate the personal experiences of the relational exercises in Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) among people with PD, and how these experiences may have an influence on self-perception among others in their daily lives. A qualitative inquiry employing semi-structured interviews was employed to investigate the objective. Data analysis involved systematic text condensation. The study adopts a phenomenological-hermeneutical viewpoint to encapsulate the essence of participants’ experiences. Patients diagnosed with PD receiving BBAT in a psychiatric unit were included. The participants were strategically chosen by their BBAT physiotherapist instructor. The participants experienced the relational exercises as uncomfortable, but benefits outweighed the discomfort. They described that the exercises taught them to be aware of oneself and the necessity to accept and love themselves before they could relate to others. This study indicates changes in how the participants experience their body awareness and self-efficacy during the intervention with BBAT. The relational exercises could lead to an increased body awareness and a positive change in the relation of oneself and others. This study adds new knowledge on the effect of relational exercises and opens a potential transferability into daily life for people suffering from PD.