Use of dialectical behavior therapy skills training for borderline personality disorder in a naturalistic setting

Abstract

This nonrandomized, naturalistic study describes a modified outpatient dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) program for borderline personality disorder (BPD) in which some patients receive the comprehensive, empirically supported DBT package and others receive DBT skills group therapy with non-DBT individual therapy. Patients who completed one skills group cycle showed significant improvements in BPD, depression, and suicidal ideation as measured by the Personality Assessment Inventory. Fifty-one percent of patients dropped out of skills group, but patients with in-system individual therapy were significantly more likely to complete group therapy. Although causal conclusions cannot be drawn, this report demonstrates that a modified DBT program can be implemented successfully in settings in which a full DBT package for all patients may not be feasible and suggests that BPD patients receiving non-DBT individual therapy may benefit from DBT skills group.