Efficacy Of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Research Articles

Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in a Forensic Psychiatric Hospital.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has strong evidence in support of its effectiveness in reducing suicide attempts, anger, impulsivity, and substance abuse. It has been implemented in a variety of forensic settings to help with these challenges, despite limited research on the efficacy of DBT within this population. The current study presents treatment outcomes from an established DBT program in a maximum-security forensic facility. Outcomes included self-reported functioning, behavioral outcomes, and assessment of DBT skills knowledge among inpatients who participated in either comprehensive DBT or DBT skills training. Behaviorally, the study found a significant decrease in rates of patient assaults and reduced use of "Pro re nata" (PRN) medication for anxiety or agitation over the course of DBT treatment. During the first six months of treatment, self-reported symptoms of depression, emotional and behavioral dysregulation, and psychological inflexibility significantly decreased. Within this time frame, patients also displayed a significant decrease in the use of dysfunctional coping skills and a significant increase in knowledge pertaining to emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. The results of this study largely support the use of DBT in forensic settings.

… And we could do better: Comparing the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy between LGBQ and heterosexual adults with borderline personality disorder.

… And we could do better: Comparing the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy between LGBQ and heterosexual adults with borderline personality disorder.

An exploratory study of dialectical behaviour therapy for emotional dysregulation and challenging behaviours after acquired brain injury.

Challenging behaviours and emotional dysregulation are common sequelae of acquired brain injury (ABI), but treatment remain underdeveloped. Dialectical behaviour therapy is an evidence-based therapy for emotional dysregulation. To explore the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of dialectical behaviour therapy for ABI. An exploratory longitudinal study that compared thirty adults with brain injury presenting persistent emotion dysregulation or challenging behaviours. Control group received a personalized multidisciplinary program only (n = 13). The dialectical behaviour therapy group received five months of emotion regulation skills learning as an add-on (n = 17). Preliminary efficacy was measured on Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 and Quality of Life after Brain Injury total score and emotion subscore. Fourteen participants completed the dialectical behaviour therapy. This study provided preliminary evidence for the feasibility and acceptability of dialectical behaviour therapy. Repeated measures revealed improvement on the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (-7.6 [-17.3; 1.7]; Pr = 0.95) and on the Quality Of Life emotion subscore (13.5 [-3.8; 30.9]; Pr = 0.94). This study raises important questions regarding the type of patients who can benefit from this intervention, necessary adaptations of dialectical behaviour therapy and the way it can help post-traumatic growth and identity reconstruction after ABI.

Efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious public health problem. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a program that has provided encouraging results for its treatment. However, scientific evidence about its efficacy is scarce. Therefore, we aimed to describe the scientific production on the components of the DBT program and its therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of people with BPD. Method : A systematic review with relevant keywords was conducted based on studies available in Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed until June 2023, including studies in English, research on therapeutic intervention, studies with a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design that included people with the diagnosis of BPD. Results: We found 18 RCTs, most of which supported the effectiveness of DBT for BPD. There were a total of 1,755 participants in these studies, most of whom were women. These studies looked for treating self-injurious behaviors, suicidal thoughts or ideations, number of visits to emergency services, and frequency of hospital admissions. Most studies revealed that both short-term DBT and standard DBT improved suicidality in BPD patients with small or moderate effect sizes, lasting up to 24 months after the treatment period. Furthermore, these studies showed that DBT can significantly improve general psychopathology and depressive symptoms in patients with BPD. Improvement of compliance, impulsivity, mood instability, as well as reduction in hospitalization rate are other findings observed in the trials following DBT. Conclusion: Although DBT shows efficacy in the treatment of BPD, heterogeneity in the methodologies employed is highlighted. Therefore, it is necessary to design studies from a homogeneous theoretical and methodological framework.

Exploring the efficacy of dialectical behaviour therapy and methylphenidate on emotional comorbid symptoms in adults with attention Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder: Results of the COMPAS multicentre randomised controlled trial

This study evaluated the efficacy of dialectical behaviour group therapy (GPT) vs. individual clinical management (CM) and methylphenidate (MPH) vs. placebo (PLB) on emotional symptoms in adults with ADHD. This longitudinal multicentre RCT compared four groups (GPT+MPH, GPT+PLB, CM+MPH, and CM+PLB) over five assessment periods, from baseline to week 130. Emotional symptomatology was assessed using SCL-90-R subscales. Of the 433 randomised participants, 371 remained for final analysis. At week 13, the GPT+MPH group showed smaller reductions in anxiety symptoms than the CM groups, but the differences disappeared at subsequent assessments. Improvements in emotional symptom were significantly predicted by reductions in core ADHD symptoms in all groups except the GPT+MPH group. The unexpected lack of between-group differences may be explained by a "floor effect", different intervention settings (group vs. individual), and psychotherapy type. Multiple regression analyses suggest a more specific effect of combined interventions (GPT+MPH). Implications for clinical practice are discussed.Clinical trial registration: ISRCTN54096201 (Current Controlled Trials).

Symptom reduction in DBT-informed partial hospital, intensive outpatient, and step-down programs: Mindfulness matters

Objective Preliminary evidence suggests the efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to reduce clinical symptoms in Partial Hospital (PH) programs. However, less is known about DBT in Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs, or in PH to IOP step-down models. The current study examined changes in depression, anxiety, stress, hopelessness, and mindfulness skills acquisition, from intake and discharge data of clients at a southeastern behavioral health clinic in the United States. Method The sample included 146 clients, 65.75% female (ages M = 33.88, SD = 12.34), who attended either a DBT-PH, -IOP, or -PH to IOP step-down program. Participants completed the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire Short Form (FFMQ-SF). Results Depression, anxiety, and hopelessness decreased from intake to discharge in the PH program, while all symptoms decreased in the IOP and step-down programs. Mindfulness total scores, and most subscales, increased in each program. Mindfulness skills acquisition predicted decreases in depression and stress in the IOP group, and decreases in depression and hopelessness in the step-down group. Conclusion Overall, clinical symptoms and mindfulness skills acquisition improved over the course of the DBT-PH and—IOP programs.

Feasibility, Acceptability and Preliminary Efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Autistic Adults without Intellectual Disability: A Mixed Methods Study.

Self-harm and suicidal behaviors are prevalent among autistic adults without intellectual disability (ID). Emotion dysregulation (ED), the difficulty in modulating emotions, has been identified as an important risk factor. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has been proved effective to treat ED in disorders other than autism spectrum disorder. Our study aimed at assessing the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of DBT in seven autistic adults without ID exhibiting self-harm and/or suicidal behaviors linked to severe ED. Our results suggest that DBT is feasible and highly acceptable to autistic adults without ID. Additionally, mean scores on the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale decreased significantly post-treatment and at 4-month follow-up, suggesting that DBT might be efficacious in reducing ED in this population.

Efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy for adolescent self-harm and suicidal ideation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Given the widespread nature and clinical consequences of self-harm and suicidal ideation among adolescents, establishing the efficacy of developmentally appropriate treatments that reduce both self-harm and suicidal ideation in the context of broader adolescent psychopathology is critical. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) literature on treating self-injury in adolescents (12-19 years). We searched for eligible trials and treatment evaluations published prior to July 2020 in MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases for clinical trials. Twenty-one studies were identified [five randomized-controlled trials (RCTs), three controlled clinical trials (CCTs), and 13 pre-post evaluations]. We extracted data for predefined primary (self-harm, suicidal ideation) and secondary outcomes (borderline personality symptoms; BPD) and calculated treatment effects for RCTs/CCTs and pre-post evaluations. This meta-analysis was pre-registered with OSF: osf.io/v83e7. Overall, the studies comprised 1673 adolescents. Compared to control groups, DBT-A showed small to moderate effects for reducing self-harm (g = -0.44; 95% CI -0.81 to -0.07) and suicidal ideation (g = -0.31, 95% CI -0.52 to -0.09). Pre-post evaluations suggested large effects for all outcomes (self-harm: g = -0.98, 95% CI -1.15 to -0.81; suicidal ideation: g = -1.16, 95% CI -1.51 to -0.80; BPD symptoms: g = -0.97, 95% CI -1.31 to -0.63). DBT-A appears to be a valuable treatment in reducing both adolescent self-harm and suicidal ideation. However, evidence that DBT-A reduces BPD symptoms was only found in pre-post evaluations.

Efficacy of dialectical behavioral therapy DBT for couples with emotional dysregulation

IntroductionCouple therapy continues to gain in stature as a vital component of mental health services. The linkage of relationship distress to disruption of individual emotional and physical well-being emphasizes the importance of improving and extending empirically based strategies for treating couple distressObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy “DBT” in outpatients couples with emotional dysregulationMethodsTwenty couples presented with marital distress and at least one of them suffers from emotional dysregulation assigned at their convenience or according to immediate availability of treatment slot to a couple DBT group. Arabic version of DERS was used for assessment of emotional dysregulation before and after intervention. Dyadic Adjustment Scale was used for assessment of marital adjustmentResults Both male and female partners showed significant improvement in marital adjustment and emotional regulation. Female partner showed significant higher change amplitude in both scales. Female partners showed significant improvement in all DERS subscales except for (GOALS) subscale (significant decrease), while male partners showed significant improvement in (IMPULSE), (AWARNESS), (STRATEGIES) and (CLARITY) subscalesConclusionsDialectical behavioral therapy for couples is an effective approach to couples with emotional dysregulation in one or both partnersDisclosureNo significant relationships.

Efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Decreasing Weight in Obese Women with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: A Quasi Experimental Study

Objective: The growing worldwide prevalence of overweight and obesity, despite treatment strategies remain the health problem. Over the past decade, increasing attention has been paid to psychological factors and a potentially comprehensive, multimodal skills-based treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) on weight loss in obese women with emotional and behavioral disorders. Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, statistical population from convenience sampling consisted of 42 obese women with body mass index (BMI) more than 29.9 kg/m2 divided in 3 groups, behavioral, emotional and control. Descriptive and analytic statistics were computed according to demographic information, emotional eating scale and Dutch eating behavior questionnaire. Intervention included 13 sessions of 1.5hr group therapy, DBT-skills training from April to September 2019. Mixed-effect modeling ANOVA with repeated measurements was performed by statistical analyses, IBM SPSS version 24 to study changes in variables over time. Results: The results demonstrated that the emotional such as anger, anxiety and depression, significantly decrease during the study period. (P-value<0.001) As well as behavioral eating demonstrated significant improvement in restrained eating and decrease in emotional and external eating behaviors right after the end of intervention while trial group experienced significant weight loss. Conclusion: The present study provides some evidence that DBT-skills training can be effective in decreasing problematic eating behaviors, emotion dysregulations, decreasing BMI.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (DBT-PTSD) Compared With Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) in Complex Presentations of PTSD in Women Survivors of Childhood Abuse

Childhood abuse significantly increases the risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often accompanied by symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and other co-occurring mental disorders. Despite the high prevalence, systematic evaluations of evidence-based treatments for PTSD after childhood abuse are sparse. To compare the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy for PTSD (DBT-PTSD), a new, specifically designed, phase-based treatment program, against that of cognitive processing therapy (CPT), one of the best empirically supported treatments for PTSD. From January 2014 to October 2016, women who sought treatment were included in a multicenter randomized clinical trial with blinded outcome assessments at 3 German university outpatient clinics. The participants were prospectively observed for 15 months. Women with childhood abuse-associated PTSD who additionally met 3 or more DSM-5 criteria for BPD, including affective instability, were included. Data analysis took place from October 2018 to December 2019. Participants received equal dosages and frequencies of DBT-PTSD or CPT, up to 45 individual sessions within 1 year and 3 additional sessions during the following 3 months. The predefined primary outcome was the course of the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) score from randomization to month 15. Intent-to-treat analyses based on dimensional CAPS-5 scores were complemented by categorical outcome measures assessing symptomatic remission, reliable improvement, and reliable recovery. Of 955 consecutive individuals assessed for eligibility, 193 were randomized (DBT-PTSD, 98; CPT, 95; mean [SD] age, 36.3 [11.1] years) and included in the intent-to-treat analyses. Analysis revealed significantly improved CAPS-5 scores in both groups (effect sizes: DBT-PTSD: d, 1.35; CPT: d, 0.98) and a small but statistically significant superiority of DBT-PTSD (group difference: 4.82 [95% CI, 0.67-8.96]; P = .02; d, 0.33). Compared with the CPT group, participants in the DBT-PTSD group were less likely to drop out early (37 [39.0%] vs 25 [25.5%]; P = .046) and had higher rates of symptomatic remission (35 [40.7%] vs 52 [58.4%]; P = .02), reliable improvement (53 [55.8%] vs 73 [74.5%]; P = .006), and reliable recovery (34 [38.6%] vs 52 [57.1%]; P = .01). These findings support the efficacy of DBT-PTSD and CPT in the treatment of women with childhood abuse-associated complex PTSD. Results pertaining to the primary outcomes favored DBT-PTSD. The study shows that even severe childhood abuse-associated PTSD with emotion dysregulation can be treated efficaciously. German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00005578.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for the treatment of stalking offenders: A randomized controlled study.

The objective was to evaluate the relative efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy modified for stalking offenders (DBT-S) versus a cognitive-behavioral anger management intervention for the treatment of stalking offenders. We expected DBT to result in significantly lower rates of renewed stalking behavior and significantly greater improvements in impulsivity, aggression, anger, and empathy. We randomly assigned individuals charged with stalking-related offences (N = 109) to one of two study interventions: DBT-S and anger management. Recidivism (renewed stalking, violence, and other offences) was monitored for 1 year following the baseline assessment, and participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires before and after treatment and at a 1-year follow-up assessment. We found relatively low rates of reoffence when compared to past studies of untreated stalking offenders in the U.S., but type of treatment had no impact on the likelihood of reoffence, nor did completion of the treatment program. Likewise, there was no between-groups difference in rates of treatment completion, or on changes in self-report measures. Intensive treatment focused on reducing problematic behaviors in stalking offenders may be effective regardless of treatment modality, but the mechanism by which treatment impacts criminal behavior is not yet clear. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Emotion Regulation and Quality of Life among Women with Borderline Personality Disorder in Shahr-e-Kord, Iran, in 2015

Introduction: Individuals with borderline personality disorder have many problems in emotion regulation and quality of life. Regarding this, the aim of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy on the improvement of emotion regulation and quality of life among women with borderline personality disorder in Shahr-e Kord, Iran, in 2015. Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted on women with borderline personality disorder referring to the psychology and counseling centers of Shahr-e Kord city in 2015 using a pretest-posttest control group design. The study population was selected using convenience sampling technique out of the women voluntarily participating in a treatment course held by the researchers. The inclusion criteria were: 1) borderline personality diagnosis based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, 2) a minimum of high school education (diploma degree), 3) age range of 20-40 years, and 4) at least one suicide attempt. The participants were then randomly assigned into two groups of intervention (n=10) and control (n=10). The intervention group was subjected to eight 90-minute sessions of dialectical behavior therapy; however, the control group received no intervention. The data were collected using the Emotion Regulation Scale and Quality of Life Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 18) using covariance. Results: According to the results, there was a significant difference between the control and intervention groups in terms of emotion regulation (F=7.61, P=0.01) and quality of life (F=13.68, P=0.001) after the intervention. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it seems that dialectical behavior therapy improved the emotion regulation and quality of life among the women with borderline personality disorder.

Efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Risky Behaviors, Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Patients with AIDS

Efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Risky Behaviors, Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Patients with AIDS

Efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents at High Risk for Suicide

Suicide is a leading cause of death among 10- to 24-year-old individuals in the United States; evidence on effective treatment for adolescents who engage in suicidal and self-harm behaviors is limited. To evaluate the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) compared with individual and group supportive therapy (IGST) for reducing suicide attempts, nonsuicidal self-injury, and overall self-harm among high-risk youths. This randomized clinical trial was conducted from January 1, 2012, through August 31, 2014, at 4 academic medical centers. A total of 173 participants (pool of 195; 22 withdrew or were excluded) 12 to 18 years of age with a prior lifetime suicide attempt (≥3 prior self-harm episodes, suicidal ideation, or emotional dysregulation) were studied. Adaptive randomization balanced participants across conditions within sites based on age, number of prior suicide attempts, and psychotropic medication use. Participants were followed up for 1 year. Study participants were randomly assigned to DBT or IGST. Treatment duration was 6 months. Both groups had weekly individual and group psychotherapy, therapist consultation meetings, and parent contact as needed. A priori planned outcomes were suicide attempts, nonsuicidal self-injury, and total self-harm assessed using the Suicide Attempt Self-Injury Interview. A total of 173 adolescents (163 [94.8%] female and 97 [56.4%] white; mean [SD] age, 14.89 [1.47] years) were studied. Significant advantages were found for DBT on all primary outcomes after treatment: suicide attempts (65 [90.3%] of 72 receiving DBT vs 51 [78.9%] of 65 receiving IGST with no suicide attempts; odds ratio [OR], 0.30; 95% CI, 0.10-0.91), nonsuicidal self-injury (41 [56.9%] of 72 receiving DBT vs 26 [40.0%] of 65 receiving IGST with no self-injury; OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.13-0.70), and self-harm (39 [54.2%] of 72 receiving DBT vs 24 [36.9%] of 65 receiving IGST with no self-harm; OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.14-0.78). Rates of self-harm decreased through 1-year follow-up. The advantage of DBT decreased, with no statistically significant between-group differences from 6 to 12 months (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.12-3.36; P = .61). Treatment completion rates were higher for DBT (75.6%) than for IGST (55.2%), but pattern-mixture models indicated that this difference did not informatively affect outcomes. The results of this trial support the efficacy of DBT for reducing self-harm and suicide attempts in highly suicidal self-harming adolescents. On the basis of the criteria of 2 independent trials supporting efficacy, results support DBT as the first well-established, empirically supported treatment for decreasing repeated suicide attempts and self-harm in youths. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01528020.

Efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents in a Partial Hospitalization Program

This study evaluated dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents (DBT‐A) vs. treatment as usual within a 6‐week partial hospitalization program. The 103 adolescent participants (mean age = 15.27 years) were predominantly girls (n = 63, 61%) with a variety of primary mental health diagnoses. Results indicated that DBT‐A was superior for decreasing symptoms of depression and interpersonal sensitivity, but no statistically significant difference was detected for anxiety or hostility. Implications for treating youth with transdiagnostic identities are discussed.

P.2.f.013 - Efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy compared to supportive therapy in adolescents with suicidal behavior

P.2.f.013 - Efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy compared to supportive therapy in adolescents with suicidal behavior

Randomized Clinical Trial of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Preadolescent Children With Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder: Feasibility and Outcomes

Persistent irritability and behavior outbursts in disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) are associated with severe impairment in childhood and with negative adolescent and adult outcomes. There are no empirically established treatments for DMDD. This study examined the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy adapted for preadolescent children (DBT-C) with DMDD. Children 7 to 12 years old with DMDD (N= 43) were randomly assigned 1:1 to DBT-C or treatment as usual (TAU). The 6 domains of feasibility included recruitment, randomization, retention, attendance, participants' satisfaction, and therapist adherence. Blinded raters assessed participants at baseline, after 8, 16, 24, and 32 weeks, and at 3-month follow-up. The primary efficacy outcome was the positive response rate on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale. Improvements in behavior outbursts and angry/irritable mood were assessed by the Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale. Mean number of participants randomized per month was 2.53 ± 2.72. Participants in DBT-C (n= 21) attended 89% of sessions compared with 48.6% in TAU (n= 22). Eight TAU participants (36.4%) dropped out compared with none in DBT-C. Parents and children in DBT-C expressed significantly higher treatment satisfaction than those in TAU. The rate of positive response was 90.4% in DBT-C compared with 45.5% in TAU, despite 3 times as many participants in TAU receiving psychiatric medications. Remission rates were 52.4% for DBT-C and 27.3% for TAU. Improvements were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Therapists showed adherence to DBT-C. DBT-C demonstrated feasibility in all prespecified domains. Outcomes also indicated preliminary efficacy of DBT-C. Clinical trial registration information-Adapting DBT for Children With DMDD: Pilot RCT; http://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT01862549.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Male Adolescents with Borderline Symptomatology

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Male Adolescents with Borderline Symptomatology The efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) in patients with borderline symptomatology has mainly been shown in female adolescents. However, male adolescents with borderline symptoms are characterized by more aggressive, disruptive, and antisocial behavior. Therefore, the efficacy of the DBT-A has to be investigated in male adolescents. The DBT-A manual was adopted for male adolescents in an inpatient setting. The program has been investigated using a pre-post design in seven male adolescents (on average 14 years of age) with an average of five borderline symptoms according to DSM-IV. Criteria for outcome are symptoms of psychopathology, emotion regulation, aggressive, and self-injurious behavior. After treatment a reduction in aggressive behavior (pre-post effect size d = 1.18) and an improvement in adaptive emotion regulation (d = 0.65) were shown. No improvement could be shown in general symptoms of psychopathology (d = 0.02). The results of these case studies of DBT-A in male adolescents are promising. However, further RCTs with larger sample sizes and a control group will be required.

Efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Stress, Resilience and Coping Strategies in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal disorder that have considerable psychological features. Objectives: This research aimed to determine the efficacy of dialectical behavioral therapy on stress, resilience and coping strategies of IBS patients. Methods: The study was quasi-experimental that including two intervention and control groups. Fifty-two IBS patients who met this diagnosis- according the Rome III criteria- were selected and assigned to two experimental and control groups with 26 IBS patients in each group. The dialectical behavioral therapy-according to Moonshine s manual- was conducted in 8 weekly sessions in a gastroenterology clinic in Isfahan. The questionnaires of stress, resilience and coping strategies were completed as the pretest, post-test and follow-up. Data were analyzed with SPSS.20. Results: Results of multivariate analysis of variance showed that dialectical behavioral therapy had a significant effect in reduction of post-test mean scores of emotional coping strategies (P < 0. 05), and there was an acceptable effect size for all variables (except avoidance strategies). Conclusions: Dialectical behavioral therapy could be useful to improvement of psychological status of IBS patients, but it needs longer therapeutic period for more persistent effects.