Preliminary Feasibility, Acceptability and Referral Efficacy of a Drop-In Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Group to Promote Enrollment in Standard DBT Skills Group

Abstract

Pretreatment interventions have been shown to increase treatment readiness, initiation, and participation in evidence-based treatments. To promote enrollment in an evidence-based Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Group (DBT; Linehan, 2015; Linehan et al., 2015), we developed a pretreatment Drop-In DBT Skills Group and evaluated the group’s feasibility, acceptability, and referral efficacy. Each session included a mindfulness practice and one of four introductory DBT skills. We assessed the Drop-In DBT Skill Group’s feasibility (clients attending ≥1 session), acceptability (clients attending ≥2 sessions), and referral efficacy (clients who sought referrals to the standard DBT Skills Group). In 8 months, 44 clients were referred to the Drop-In DBT Skills Group; 37 clients completed the screening process (84%). Of the 37 clients who responded to outreach, 32 attended ≥1 group or had already started the DBT Skills Group (86.5%; feasibility). Of the 32 clients who attended at least one group, 29 clients attended ≥2 Drop-In DBT Skills Groups or started the DBT Sills Group (90.6%; acceptability). Ultimately, 17 clients, including 13 DBT-ambivalent clients and 4 waitlisted clients, requested a referral to the standard DBT Skills Group. The Drop-In DBT Skills Group shows strong feasibility, acceptability, and referral efficacy in helping more ambivalent clients enroll in DBT Skills Group.