Exploring the relevance of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills for emerging adults in India.

The prevalence of youth mental illness in the United States is on the rise, and this increases the need for effective counseling interventions for children. This article introduces the integration of Adlerian play therapy (AdPT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills with children who struggle with emotion dysregulation. We include an overview of both theoretical approaches, justification for integration, and a case study illustrating this dual approach in session. Finally, counseling implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Subthreshold binge-eating disorder (BED) symptoms can lead to additive physical and psychological health challenges and may put youth at risk for developing BED during the early adulthood. We examined the implementation of a condensed dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills intervention for subthreshold binge-eating behaviors in adolescents. Fifteen 14-18years old participated in a 10-week DBT skills group, which experientially introduced mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills in the context of emotionally driven overeating behaviors. Adolescents and caregivers completed measures of emotional eating and binge-eating behaviors at baseline and post-intervention, including the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire and Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents. Eleven participants were retained at 3-month follow-up. Descriptive statistics were compared at all three time points. Results suggested a reduction in emotional eating and binge-eating behaviors based on youth self-report and caregiver report. Acceptability ratings of the treatment were high among participants completing the intervention. Using DBT skills to target emotionally driven overeating behaviors in youth may be useful in the treatment of subthreshold BED behaviors and potentially deter future development of full-criteria BED. Level IV, uncontrolled pilot trial.

The present study investigated the effectiveness of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and the effect of improvement in DBT skills on clinical outcomes. Participants included 57 adults who attended a community mental health service and underwent one of two modes of DBT. Twenty-six adults had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and participated in comprehensive DBT (DBT-C; including group skills training, individual therapy, and phone coaching). Thirty-one adults had BPD traits and participated in DBT skills training (DBT-S; group skills training only). In the present study, the DBT skills examined were mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness; the clinical outcomes examined were borderline symptoms, psychological distress, and quality of life. Six 2 × 2 analysis of covariances indicated significant improvements in psychological distress, quality of life, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness (but not borderline symptoms and emotion regulation), over a 6-month period. Mode of delivery of DBT did not impact on the improvement in DBT skills and clinical outcomes over the 6-month period. Hierarchical multiple regression results indicated that improvement in DBT skills (mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness) were associated with reductions in borderline symptoms and psychological distress, with emotion regulation the only skill uniquely associated with improvements in clinical outcomes. The results of the present study support the effectiveness of DBT and the specific role of emotion regulation for favorable clinical outcomes over a 6-month period, independent of the mode of delivery of DBT.

ABSTRACTEmotional overeating, or eating in excess to soothe negative emotions, is a high-risk behavior for the future development of the binge-eating disorder (BED). The Emotional Overeating Intervention (EOI) is a culturally responsive, 10-week condensed dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills group intervention for adolescents endorsing emotional-overeating and binge-eating behaviors. The present study served as a secondary analysis of the intervention data, with the aim of using quantitative measures and qualitative interviews to examine intervention acceptability and DBT skill acquisition. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for quantitative surveys and qualitative content analysis for interviews. Among the 15 adolescents (Mage = 15.40 years; 73.3% identifying as female; 100% identifying as Black) who participated in the EOI pilot trial, most identified learning acceptance-based DBT skills, particularly radical acceptance, as both highly acceptable and the most useful aspect of treatment. Participants reported increases in distress tolerance appraisal and emotion regulation cognitive reappraisal scale scores from baseline to post-intervention. Accordingly, acceptance-based DBT skills may be associated with change-based cognitive strategies, which may contribute to improvements in emerging BED pathology. Findings serve as an initial step in informing preventative models of scalable interventions for subthreshold BED among adolescents, by identifying variables that warrant investigation as potential mechanisms of change.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is effective at treating disorders of emotion dysregulation. However, it is unclear which mechanisms contribute to these effects. The aim of this study was to characterize the within-person associations of two theoretically relevant mechanisims of change, skill use and skill effectiveness, with anxiety, stress, and depression. Participants (n = 19, M age = 31.8, 68% female) with a primary anxiety or depressive disorder completed daily reports (N = 1344) of DBT skill use, perceived effectiveness, anxiety, stress, and depression during a 16-session DBT skills training group. DBT skill use increased across treatment, p < .01, but effectiveness did not, p = .64. Within persons, participants used more skills on days with greater stress and anxiety, p < .01, which predicted next-day decreases in stress and anxiety, p = .03. On days when participants reported higher effectiveness, they used more skills than their personal average when experiencing more intense negative affect, p < .01. These results suggest using more skills, especially when used more effectively, is a mechanism by which DBT skills groups address emotional dysfunction for those with transdiagnostic emotional disorders.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Suicidal Self-Harming Youth: Emotion Regulation, Mechanisms, and Mediators

Non-suicidal self-injury encompasses several deliberately harmful behaviours used by some clients to manage distress. It has significant health risks, including accidental death. This single-case study explores the integration of temporary tattooing and a dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) - informed skills-based intervention to treat non-suicidal self-injury in a female diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The intervention was designed to redirect self-injurious behaviours toward self-expression through artistic temporary tattooing, conceptualised as a form of habit reversal training. Over 15 sessions, temporary tattooing was conceptualised as both a competing and reinforcing behaviour, aiming to promote mindfulness, self-expression, and affect regulation. Quantitative data from diary cards demonstrated increased use of DBT skills and temporary tattooing, accompanied by a reduction in the frequency of self-harm. Qualitative feedback suggested that the tattoos functioned as positive reinforcement, enhancing autonomy and positive identity formation. Findings support the therapeutic potential of temporary tattooing as a feasible adjunct to DBT skills in treating non suicidal self-injury. Implications for clinical practice, limitations, and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Objective: To examine the feasibility and initial efficacy of 2 abbreviated dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills training groups: emotion regulation skills only and emotion regulation with mindfulness skills. Participants: Participants were 24 undergraduates (aged 18–29) with significant emotion dysregulation who participated between February and May of 2010, 2011, and 2012. Methods: Participants participated in 2-hour weekly group sessions for 8 weeks and completed outcome measures at baseline, midtreatment, posttreatment, and 4-week follow-up. Results: Participants in both conditions made significant gains, with large effect sizes, across measures of emotion regulation, affect, skills use, and functioning. There were no differences between the 2 groups, suggesting no additive benefit of mindfulness skills. Conclusions: This pilot study provides support for the acceptability and efficacy of abbreviated DBT skills training in colleges, given significant improvements, positive feedback, and low attrition. Impediments to feasibility included recruitment difficulties, particularly due to scheduling constraints.

Although the majority recovers from the death of a loved one, nearly 5% exhibit persistent symptoms of grief, known as Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder (PCBD). PCBD has adverse health, social, and psychological consequences. We examined the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills training with a 57-year-old African American woman who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) criteria for PCBD and Persistent Depressive Disorder. The client met with a graduate student therapist (i.e., the second author) who applied DBT skills training on an individual basis. By the end of treatment, the participant no longer met the criteria for either of these disorders. Reliable and clinically significant reduction in her grief and depressive symptoms, suicidality, and sleep difficulties were noted from pre- to posttreatment and maintained for 2 months post treatment. Furthermore, she improved her ability to regulate her emotions and cognitions using DBT coping skills and eliminated substance abuse. These results prompt the need for more research to further investigate DBT skills training for PCBD.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has demonstrated effectiveness for a range of emotional difficulties, and DBT skills training groups may be necessary to produce symptom change. However, it is unclear how skills training groups influence outcomes. Specifically, is participation in DBT skills modules associated with general effects (i.e., changes in multiple domains) or domain-specific effects (i.e., changes in the conceptually relevant domain)? Participants recruited from a university training clinic (n = 87; 75.9% diagnosed with borderline personality disorder) participated in standard DBT for 6 months. We conducted hierarchical linear mixed models to test whether self-reported changes in emotion regulation, interpersonal problems, and distress tolerance were associated with the specific DBT module intended to target that outcome. In 3 models, we regressed end-of-module ratings of each of our measures of interest on (a) premodule ratings of each measure of interest, (b) time, and (c) dummy-coded module completed. Although all modules were associated with similar reductions in emotion dysregulation, the Emotion Regulation module was associated with the greatest improvements in both interpersonal problems and distress tolerance. In contrast, the first skills module completed was unrelated to changes in any of these domains. These results suggest that Emotion Regulation skills are associated with improvements in patient symptoms across relevant domains and offer potential directions for optimizing the delivery of DBT. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Introduction Brief versions of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) may enhance patient outcomes in diverse service settings. This study examined the effectiveness of two DBT-informed treatments for diagnostically heterogeneous groups in routine practice: 5-day group training in DBT skills (DBT-5) and a 12-week DBT program (DBT-12). Methods : Depression, anxiety, stress, borderline symptoms, self-esteem, and general mental wellbeing were measured at pre-and post-treatment in a sample of inpatients and outpatients (N=395). Rates of clinically significant change on these measures were calculated and effect sizes benchmarked against prior DBT outcome studies. Readmission rates were used to measure treatment response maintenance. Results : Scores on all measures improved significantly from pre- to post-treatment. DBT-5 and DBT-12 yielded similar effect sizes compared to prior DBT outcome studies. At least 43.5% of patients were classified as recovered or improved regarding borderline symptoms at the end of both DBT-5 and DBT-12. Readmission rates were also low (5%–6.8%). Conclusions Brief DBT-informed treatments may offer a fast reduction in symptoms and quicker return to functioning.

The present study aimed to explore the perceptions about the experience of participating in an intervention based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Training. Three participants with obesity of an intervention group agree to answer a semi-structured interview two month after the group. The semi structured interview focused on three areas: (1) experience of participating in an adapted DBT protocol; (2) treatment impact; (3) helpful or unhelpful aspects. The interviews were transcribed, and a thematic analysis was performed by three independent judges to evaluate treatment outcome in the sample. The results of the thematic analysis are divided in three domains: group experience, perceived effects and skills. Participants perceived impact on interpersonal environment and personal changes in self-control, dialectic vision, self-awareness and attention to eating context. The experience of group sharing is perceived as validating, however participants also referred anxiety in the group, especially regarding learning the skills. Recommendations on conductions of Skills Training groups for this population are discussed.Keywords: Dialectical Behavior Therapy; Qualitative Study; Obesity.

Background Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) is an empirically supported intervention for people with borderline personality disorder. There is an emerging body of research that suggests that using the skills group from DBT as a stand-alone intervention may have merit.Aim To evaluate the use of stand-alone DBT skills groups in multiple community mental health teams (CMHT) and the use of emergency healthcare resources following the intervention.Methods Sixty six people started the group, however, only 26 service users completed this intervention. An uncontrolled, repeated measures group design was used to compare service users’ mental health before and after the intervention. Information from service users’ health records were also recorded and analysed.Results A DBT skills group intervention may be effective at reducing negative thoughts, feelings and behaviours, promoting positive self-help behaviours, and reducing service users’ reliance on professional help for support.Conclusion This evaluation provides tentative support for the use of DBT skills as a stand-alone intervention in a CMHT.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was developed for treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD), and adapted forms of DBT are currently used to treat bipolar disorder, eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. This study was designed to validate the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Ways of Coping Checklist (DBT-WCCL) DBT Skills subscale (DSS) for use in a diagnostically heterogeneous sample. We used naturalistic data from 228 patients receiving treatment at a partial hospital program to assess psychometric properties of the DBT-WCCL DSS. We assessed interitem correlations, internal consistency, factor structure, construct validity and sensitivity to change. Internal consistency, construct validity, and sensitivity to change were good. The measure displayed good convergent and discriminant validity. Factor analysis results were consistent with previous research indicating a 1-factor solution for this subscale. Psychometric properties were similar to the original BPD sample, indicating that this measure can be used as an assessment tool for DBT skill use in a diverse psychiatric population.

Which training method works best? A randomized controlled trial comparing three methods of training clinicians in dialectical behavior therapy skills