Outcomes of brief versions of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for diagnostically heterogeneous groups in a routine care setting

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

• brief psychotherapy
• outcome research

Acknowledgments

Thank you to the Perth Clinic staff who assisted with the collection of data for this study and their ongoing assistance with queries about the DBT programs.

Supplemental Data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2021.1933240.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded in part by the Australian Research Council grant LP150100503.