Mentalization-Based Therapy for Children and Families: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Recent Literature

Tricia Spollen, Gary Byrne, David Hevey, Eithne Ni Longphuirt, School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Primary Care Services, HSE Community Healthcare East, Dublin South East

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Published online on April 24, 2026

Abstract

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Ahead of Print.
This systematic review evaluated the impact of Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) parenting interventions on parental reflective functioning (PRF, the operationalized measure of the metalizing construct), child psychosocial outcomes, and parenting factors. ...