Development and Clinical Outcomes of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Clinic

Abstract

The authors describe the first 6 months of a dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) clinic operated by trainees in a general adult psychiatry residency program. The purpose of this report is to provide a model for the creation and maintenance of a formalized resident DBT clinic. Residents participated in the DBT clinic, attended a weekly combined lecture series and consultation group supervised by the clinic director, and completed a 20-hour online Continuing Medical Education course in DBT skills training. Eight residents participated in the clinic, each carrying one patient with Borderline Personality Disorder. The clinic did not experience any major administrative problems during 6 months of operation. A Resident DBT Clinic was successfully implemented as an elective rotation in the adult psychiatry residency training program at the University of Utah.