Sigmund Karterud
Biographic Data
| ID | 4426190 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Sigmund Karterud |
| GIVEN NAMES | Sigmund |
| FAMILY NAME | Karterud |
| SIGNATURE | KARTERUD S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Oslo University Hospital |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5539-9299 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 23 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 23 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1988 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Group treatment is favoured by Norwegian mental health leaders
Group therapy is not always acclaimed by leaders of mental health services. Recently, a survey in Norway gave group treatment top ranking. The Institute of Group Analysis and Group Psychotherapy (IGA) is the main training institution for group psychotherapy and group analysis in Norway. In this article, a founding member of the Norwegian IGA (SK), an earlier (SNB) and the current head of education (AU) of IGA, and a clinical director of a current…
Some reflections on research and group analysis
This text resembles the introduction I gave at the GASi 48th Winter Workshop 2025, ‘From Theory to Practice: Applications of Group Analysis in Research Field. A multidimensional exploration’. Research implies an empirical stance. I discuss some of its implications for group analysis
On the relationship between group analysis and mentalization-based group therapy
In this article we describe and reflect upon the roots of mentalization-based group therapy (MBT-G) and its relationship to group analysis. The original setting for MBT was psychotherapeutic day hospitals that were strongly influenced by group analytic thinking. The challenges from an increasing number of borderline patients initiated theoretical and therapeutic innovations that separated MBT-G from traditional group analysis who responded differ…
Personality and the group matrix
Foulkes’ concept of the group matrix is foundational for group analysis. However, its content should progress in parallel with new knowledge in areas that concern its essence. Influential authors have recently proposed a ‘tripartite matrix’ as well as constitutive ‘four modalities’ for understanding others. In this article we contend that personality theory has important implications for a modern understanding of the matrix. We have recently form…
The relationship between reflective functioning and affect consciousness in patients with avoidant and borderline personality disorders
A high-quality mentalization-based group therapy session
A previous study of a MBT group displayed that the therapists failed to establish the group as a training ground for mentalizing. In this study we present a detailed and long transcript of a sequence in a successful MBT group. The therapists’ interventions were rated according to the mentalization-based group therapy adherence and quality scale, performed by the Norwegian MBT Quality Laboratory. The therapists displayed a high adherence to the MB…
A comparative study of a mentalization-based versus a psychodynamic group therapy session
Aims: The purpose of this study was to explore how mentalization-based group therapy (MBT-G) for patients with borderline personality disorder may be both different and similar to a more traditional psychodynamic group psychotherapy approach. Material and methods: The study is a comparative case-study examining a supposedly representative clinical example of MBT-G and a supposedly representative clinical example of a psychodynamic group (PDG). Bo…
Mentalization-Based Group Therapy (MBT-G)
Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) has gained international acclaim as an efficient treatment for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The approach also seems to be helpful for other personality disorders and difficult-to-treat conditions, for example, addiction and eating disorders. MBT consists of a psychoeducational, an individual, and a group therapy component. This is the first comprehensive manual for mentalization-based gr…
On Structure and Leadership in Mentalization-based Group Therapy and Group Analysis
Mentalization-based group therapy (MBT-G) has its roots in group analytic psychotherapy. Modifications were made in order to suit the needs of more disturbed personality disordered patients, and to avoid the chaotic and destructive processes often encountered in groups dominated by these patients. In this article I outline the kind of leadership, structure and authority that MBT proscribes and discuss these principles in comparison with group ana…
A Qualitative Study of a Mentalization-based Group for Borderline Patients
In this article we present a video-based explorative study of three consecutive mentalization-based group therapy (MBT-G) sessions at a Norwegian Mental Health Centre. MBT-G has its roots in group analytic psychotherapy, but is modified to avoid the chaotic and destructive processes often encountered in groups consisting of severely personality disordered patients. Among the most notable differences from the Foulkesian group analytic approach are…
Mentalization-Based Group Therapy
From Group Analytic Practice to Group Analytic Text
Writing a diploma paper is often regarded as the final step in group analytic training. Nevertheless, there are no common regulations or guidelines among the different European group analytic training institutes on this subject. In this article, we look at some of the formal and informal implications of writing a diploma paper with reference to our experiences at the Institute of Group Analysis, Norway. The purpose of writing a diploma paper is d…
Constructing and Mentalizing the Matrix
On Narcissism, Evolution and Group Dynamics
Malcolm Pines was instrumental to the establishment of group analytic training in Norway. My personal relation to Malcolm was coined by our shared interest in self-psychology and group analysis. In this article I take the opportunity to rethink the foundation of narcissism. Heinz Kohut regarded the ultimate source of narcissism to be an innate striving for perfection, which had to be modified and mourned with the help of reliable and good enough …
Guidelines for Art Group Therapy as Part of a Day Treatment Program for Patients with Personality Disorders
Art group therapy has been rated as the most favoured therapeutic element by patients, irrespective of personality type, in a combined group therapy program. In this article we outline the guidelines for such treatment and discuss why patients favour this group
The Group Self
The authors explore and expand on Heinz Kohut's concept `the group self', which is related to, yet different from the concepts `intersubjective field' and `group matrix'. The group self is defined as a collective project with inherent ambitions, ideals and resources. From this perspective the authors discuss group-as-a-whole phenomena, empathy, aspects of group development and the kind of discourse appropriate for group psychotherapy. This partic…
Group Analysis in the Age of Evidence-Based Psychology/Psychiatry - Commentary on `Research as an Extended Group Phenomenon
On the Scientific Foundation of Group Analysis
Group Reactions in a Hospital Crisis Intervention Programme
The paper describes group reactions among survivors, relatives and hospital staff participating in a crisis intervention programme following a bus accident in Norway. The survivors and the dead were brought to the regional hospital. The groups gathered were injured children and adults, and relatives of injured and dead victims. The participating hospital staff were mainly members of the intensive care unit, staff from two surgical wards and perso…
A `Strange' Review
Group Dreams Revisited
Dream interpretation presents the group analyst with a theoretical as well as a practical (therapeutic) challenge. The classical Freudian interpretation that the manifest content disguises the latent content through symbolization, condensation and displacement, comprehended within a drive-discharge theoretical model, cannot be properly applied in groups since the very activity necessary for such an interpretation contradicts the role requirements…
A Study of Bion's Basic Assumption Groups
Bion's group dynamic theory can be divided into a general group dynamic part, a description of the basic assumptions fight/flight, dependency and pairing, and a metapsychological explanation of the basic assumption phenomena. Previous studies with somewhat questionable methodology have found that the basic assumption pairing seems more closely associated with fight/flight than dependency. This study replicates these findings. Seventyfive inpatien…
Group Focal Conflict Analysis
On the relationship between group analysis and mentalization-based group therapy
In this article we describe and reflect upon the roots of mentalization-based group therapy (MBT-G) and its relationship to group analysis. The original setting for MBT was psychotherapeutic day hospitals that were strongly influenced by group analytic thinking. The challenges from an increasing number of borderline patients initiated theoretical and therapeutic innovations that separated MBT-G from traditional group analysis who responded differ…
Group Focal Conflict Analysis
A Study of Bion's Basic Assumption Groups
Bion's group dynamic theory can be divided into a general group dynamic part, a description of the basic assumptions fight/flight, dependency and pairing, and a metapsychological explanation of the basic assumption phenomena. Previous studies with somewhat questionable methodology have found that the basic assumption pairing seems more closely associated with fight/flight than dependency. This study replicates these findings. Seventyfive inpatien…
A `Strange' Review
Group Dreams Revisited
Dream interpretation presents the group analyst with a theoretical as well as a practical (therapeutic) challenge. The classical Freudian interpretation that the manifest content disguises the latent content through symbolization, condensation and displacement, comprehended within a drive-discharge theoretical model, cannot be properly applied in groups since the very activity necessary for such an interpretation contradicts the role requirements…
Group Reactions in a Hospital Crisis Intervention Programme
The paper describes group reactions among survivors, relatives and hospital staff participating in a crisis intervention programme following a bus accident in Norway. The survivors and the dead were brought to the regional hospital. The groups gathered were injured children and adults, and relatives of injured and dead victims. The participating hospital staff were mainly members of the intensive care unit, staff from two surgical wards and perso…
On the Scientific Foundation of Group Analysis
Group Analysis in the Age of Evidence-Based Psychology/Psychiatry - Commentary on `Research as an Extended Group Phenomenon
The Group Self
The authors explore and expand on Heinz Kohut's concept `the group self', which is related to, yet different from the concepts `intersubjective field' and `group matrix'. The group self is defined as a collective project with inherent ambitions, ideals and resources. From this perspective the authors discuss group-as-a-whole phenomena, empathy, aspects of group development and the kind of discourse appropriate for group psychotherapy. This partic…
Guidelines for Art Group Therapy as Part of a Day Treatment Program for Patients with Personality Disorders
Art group therapy has been rated as the most favoured therapeutic element by patients, irrespective of personality type, in a combined group therapy program. In this article we outline the guidelines for such treatment and discuss why patients favour this group
On Narcissism, Evolution and Group Dynamics
Malcolm Pines was instrumental to the establishment of group analytic training in Norway. My personal relation to Malcolm was coined by our shared interest in self-psychology and group analysis. In this article I take the opportunity to rethink the foundation of narcissism. Heinz Kohut regarded the ultimate source of narcissism to be an innate striving for perfection, which had to be modified and mourned with the help of reliable and good enough …
Constructing and Mentalizing the Matrix
From Group Analytic Practice to Group Analytic Text
Writing a diploma paper is often regarded as the final step in group analytic training. Nevertheless, there are no common regulations or guidelines among the different European group analytic training institutes on this subject. In this article, we look at some of the formal and informal implications of writing a diploma paper with reference to our experiences at the Institute of Group Analysis, Norway. The purpose of writing a diploma paper is d…
Mentalization-Based Group Therapy (MBT-G)
Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) has gained international acclaim as an efficient treatment for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The approach also seems to be helpful for other personality disorders and difficult-to-treat conditions, for example, addiction and eating disorders. MBT consists of a psychoeducational, an individual, and a group therapy component. This is the first comprehensive manual for mentalization-based gr…
On Structure and Leadership in Mentalization-based Group Therapy and Group Analysis
Mentalization-based group therapy (MBT-G) has its roots in group analytic psychotherapy. Modifications were made in order to suit the needs of more disturbed personality disordered patients, and to avoid the chaotic and destructive processes often encountered in groups dominated by these patients. In this article I outline the kind of leadership, structure and authority that MBT proscribes and discuss these principles in comparison with group ana…
A Qualitative Study of a Mentalization-based Group for Borderline Patients
In this article we present a video-based explorative study of three consecutive mentalization-based group therapy (MBT-G) sessions at a Norwegian Mental Health Centre. MBT-G has its roots in group analytic psychotherapy, but is modified to avoid the chaotic and destructive processes often encountered in groups consisting of severely personality disordered patients. Among the most notable differences from the Foulkesian group analytic approach are…
Mentalization-Based Group Therapy
The relationship between reflective functioning and affect consciousness in patients with avoidant and borderline personality disorders
A high-quality mentalization-based group therapy session
A previous study of a MBT group displayed that the therapists failed to establish the group as a training ground for mentalizing. In this study we present a detailed and long transcript of a sequence in a successful MBT group. The therapists’ interventions were rated according to the mentalization-based group therapy adherence and quality scale, performed by the Norwegian MBT Quality Laboratory. The therapists displayed a high adherence to the MB…
A comparative study of a mentalization-based versus a psychodynamic group therapy session
Aims: The purpose of this study was to explore how mentalization-based group therapy (MBT-G) for patients with borderline personality disorder may be both different and similar to a more traditional psychodynamic group psychotherapy approach. Material and methods: The study is a comparative case-study examining a supposedly representative clinical example of MBT-G and a supposedly representative clinical example of a psychodynamic group (PDG). Bo…
Personality and the group matrix
Foulkes’ concept of the group matrix is foundational for group analysis. However, its content should progress in parallel with new knowledge in areas that concern its essence. Influential authors have recently proposed a ‘tripartite matrix’ as well as constitutive ‘four modalities’ for understanding others. In this article we contend that personality theory has important implications for a modern understanding of the matrix. We have recently form…
On the relationship between group analysis and mentalization-based group therapy
In this article we describe and reflect upon the roots of mentalization-based group therapy (MBT-G) and its relationship to group analysis. The original setting for MBT was psychotherapeutic day hospitals that were strongly influenced by group analytic thinking. The challenges from an increasing number of borderline patients initiated theoretical and therapeutic innovations that separated MBT-G from traditional group analysis who responded differ…
Group treatment is favoured by Norwegian mental health leaders
Group therapy is not always acclaimed by leaders of mental health services. Recently, a survey in Norway gave group treatment top ranking. The Institute of Group Analysis and Group Psychotherapy (IGA) is the main training institution for group psychotherapy and group analysis in Norway. In this article, a founding member of the Norwegian IGA (SK), an earlier (SNB) and the current head of education (AU) of IGA, and a clinical director of a current…
Some reflections on research and group analysis
This text resembles the introduction I gave at the GASi 48th Winter Workshop 2025, ‘From Theory to Practice: Applications of Group Analysis in Research Field. A multidimensional exploration’. Research implies an empirical stance. I discuss some of its implications for group analysis
Psychology (22 works) · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications (19 works) · Psychotherapist (12 works) · Personality Disorders and Psychopathology (11 works) · Psychoanalysis (11 works) · Social Psychology (11 works) · Group (periodic table (9 works) · Group analysis (9 works) · Group psychotherapy (8 works) · Mentalization (8 works)