The Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training Group vs. Cognitive Therapy Group on Reducing Depression and Suicide Attempts for Borderline Personality Disorder in Taiwan

Abstract

In this study the effectiveness of the condensed Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training Group (DBTSTG) was compared to the Cognitive Therapy Group (CTG) in reducing depression and suicide reattempt and modifying emotion regulation strategies among those with borderline personality disorder (BPD). A total of 82 depressed BPD college students with a suicidal history within the past 6-months were randomly allocated to DBTSTG or CTG. Both groups had similar reductions in suicide reattempts and depression after the intervention and 6-month follow-ups. However, the CTG showed improvements in cognitive errors, but the DBTSTG revealed increases in acceptance and decreases in suppression scores. Both groups were effective in decreasing depression and suicide reattempt in BPD college students, probably through increasing adaptive antecedent-focused or response-focused strategies of emotion regulation, respectively.

Keywords:

• borderline personality disorder
• cognitive therapy group
• depression
• dialectical behavior therapy skills training group
• emotion regulation
• suicide attempt

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the grant to H.C.Ko, Ph.D. from the National Science Council, Taiwan, R.O.C. (NSC96-2413-H006-007, NSC97-2410-H006-076).

Notes on contributors

Tsung-Jen Lin

Tsung-Jen Lin, MS, Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

Huei-Chen Ko

Huei-Chen Ko, PhD, Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Sciences, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan and Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

Jo Yung-Wei Wu

Jo Yung-Wei Wu, PhD Department of Counseling and Guidance, National University of Tainan, Tainan, Taiwan.

Tian Po Oei

Tian Po Oei, PhD, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.

Hsien-Yuan Lane

Hsien-Yuan Lane, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung and Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Medical College, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.

Chung-Hey Chen

Chung-Hey Chen, PhD, Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.