Implementing Dialectical Behavior Therapy With Adolescents and Their Families in a Community Outpatient Clinic

Abbreviated Dialectical Behavior Therapy Virtual Skills Group for Caregivers of Adolescents: An Exploratory Study of Service User and Clinical Outcomes

Prior work emphasizes involving caregivers in youth mental health services. To support youth with emotion dysregulation, dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) includes a multi-family skills group, wherein adolescents and caregivers learn skills together. However, limited work has examined the impact of caregiver involvement within DBT-A. The current study examines outcomes of two caregiver-only DBT-A skills groups adapted for abbreviated telehealth delivery. We report on caregivers' (N = 11, 100% mothers, 55% Hispanic) service user outcomes (e.g. self-efficacy at skill usage, group cohesion, therapeutic alliance) and clinical outcomes (i.e. their own emotion functioning, criticism, responses to their adolescent's negative emotions). Results indicate caregiver-only groups were feasible and acceptable, and suggest preliminary efficacy, including improvements in caregiver emotion functioning, distress during interactions with their adolescents, and adolescent-reported criticism. Caregivers also reported reductions in unsupportive responses with their adolescents. Overall, while we caution interpretation due to a small sample size, findings support the preliminary feasibility and efficacy of modifying caregiver participation in DBT-A to be less time-consuming and administered via telehealth.

Video-Delivered Family Therapy for Perinatal Women With Depressive Symptoms and Family Conflict: Feasibility, Acceptability, Safety, and Tolerability Results From a Pilot Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND

Although individual-level treatments exist for pregnant and postpartum women with depression, family conflict is a significant factor that can contribute to the development and severity of perinatal depressive symptoms. Yet, there is a lack of research on family therapy for perinatal women with moderate to severe depressive symptoms and family conflict. Further, research is needed on the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and tolerability of family therapies for perinatal depression that are delivered using Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant videoconferencing technology (VCT).

OBJECTIVE

This paper describes the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and tolerability of a VCT-based family therapeutic intervention, Resilience Enhancement Skills Training (REST), for perinatal women with moderate to severe depressive symptoms and moderate to high conflict with their family members.

METHODS

This paper includes data from an ongoing randomized trial that compares an experimental family therapeutic intervention (REST) to standard of care (VCT-based problem-solving individual therapy) for the treatment of moderate to severe depressive symptoms in perinatal women with moderate to high family conflict. Both interventions were delivered by masters-level therapists using VCT. A total of 83 perinatal women and their adult family members (N=166 individuals) were recruited for participation in the study. Feasibility, defined as therapist adherence to ≥80% of REST session content, was assessed in audio-recorded sessions by 2 expert raters. Acceptability was defined as ≥80% of families completing REST, including completion of ≥80% homework assignments and family report of satisfaction with REST. Completion of REST was assessed by review of therapist session notes, and satisfaction was assessed by participant completion of a web-based questionnaire. The Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition was administered to perinatal women by research assistants (blind to study group assignment) to assess safety, defined as a reduction in depressive symptoms during the treatment phase. The Family Environment Scale-Family Conflict subscale was administered by therapists to participants during the treatment phase to assess tolerability, defined as a reduction in family conflict during the treatment phase.

RESULTS

On average, the therapists achieved 90% adherence to REST session content. Of the families who started REST, 84% (32/38) of them completed REST, and on average, they completed 89% (8/9) of the homework assignments. Families reported satisfaction with REST. The results showed that REST is safe for perinatal women with moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and none discontinued due to worsened depressive symptoms. The results showed that REST is well tolerated by families, and no families discontinued due to sustained family conflict.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that REST is feasible, acceptable, safe, and tolerable for families. These findings will guide our interpretation of REST's preliminary effectiveness upon completion of outcome data collection.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04741776; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04741776.

Parent and Carer Skills Groups in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for High-Risk Adolescents with Severe Emotion Dysregulation: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Participants' Outcomes and Experiences

BACKGROUND

There is an established evidence-base for dialectical behaviour therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) in the treatment of young people with severe emotion dysregulation and related problems, including repeated self-harm and suicidal behaviours. However, few studies have reported on parental involvement in such treatments. This study aims to explore the outcomes and experiences of participants of a dedicated skills group for parents and carers embedded within an adapted DBT-A programme in the United Kingdom.

METHOD

This study was conducted within a specialist outpatient Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) DBT programme in the National Health Service (NHS) in London. Participants were parents and carers of adolescents engaged in the DBT-A programme. Participants attended a 6-month parent and carer skills group intervention and completed self-report measures relating to carer distress, communication and family functioning, at pre-intervention and post-intervention. Following the intervention, semi-structured interviews were also completed with a subgroup of participants to explore their experiences of the skills group and how they perceived its effectiveness. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyse the data collected from participants.

RESULTS

Forty-one parents and carers completed the intervention. Participants reported a number of statistically significant changes from pre- to post-intervention: general levels of distress and problems in family communication decreased, while perceived openness of family communication and strengths and adaptability in family functioning increased. A thematic analysis of post-intervention interviews examining participant experiences identified six themes: (1) experiences prior to DBT; (2) safety in DBT; (3) experiences with other parents and carers; (4) new understandings; (5) changes in behaviours; and (6) future suggestions.

DISCUSSION

Parents and carers who attended a dedicated DBT skills groups, adapted for local needs, reported improvements in their wellbeing, as well as interactions with their adolescents and more general family functioning, by the end of the intervention. Further studies are needed which report on caregiver involvement in DBT.

The use of dialectical behavior therapy in adolescent anger management: A systematic review

Adolescence brings about many changes that are observed biologically, psychologically, and socially. This period is viewed as challenging in many cultures and can be a time when adolescents have difficulty controlling their emotions. Researchers focusing on the emotional state of adolescence emphasized that uncontrollable anger negatively affects' adolescent mental health and social relationships. In this systematic review article, studies using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) or DBT-informed studies assessing anger among adolescents have been examined. Characteristics as well as findings of these studies have been discussed. In general, DBT is a promising psychotherapy approach in increasing adolescent anger management; however, more methodologically rigorous experimental and meta-analysis studies are warranted.

Dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents (DBT-A): Outcomes among sexual minorities at high risk for suicide

The alarming rates and pervasiveness of suicidal and self-destructive behaviors (e.g., non-suicidal self-injury) among young sexual minorities represent a major public health concern. We set out to examine whether an empirically driven treatment for suicide and self-harm, dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents (DBT-A), provides benefits for adolescents who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or questioning (LGBQ). LGBQ adolescents (n = 16) were compared with non-LGBQ peers (n = 23). Psychological measures were collected before and after participation in a comprehensive DBT-A program. LGBQ participants demonstrated significant improvements in emotion regulation, depression, borderline symptoms, and coping strategies; changes were comparable to their heterosexual peers.

Effectiveness of family connections intervention for family members of persons with personality disorders in two different formats: Online vs face-to-face

INTRODUCTION

Personality disorders (PD) have a serious impact on the lives of individuals who suffer from them and those around them. It is common for family members to experience high levels of burden, anxiety, and depression, and deterioration in their quality of life. It is curious that few interventions have been developed for family members of people with PD. However, Family Connections (FC) (Hoffman and Fruzzetti, 2005) is the most empirically supported intervention for family members of people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

AIM

The aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness of online vs face-to-face FC. Given the current social constraints resulting from SARS-CoV-2, interventions have been delivered online and modified.

METHOD

This was a non-randomized pilot study with a pre-post evaluation and two conditions: The sample consisted of 45 family members distributed in two conditions: FC face-to-face (20) performed by groups before the pandemic, and FC online (25), performed by groups during the pandemic. All participants completed the evaluation protocol before and after the intervention.

RESULTS

There is a statistically significant improvement in levels of burden (η 2 = 0.471), depression, anxiety, and stress (η 2 = 0.279), family empowerment (η 2 = 0.243), family functioning (η 2 = 0.345), and quality of life (μ2 η 2 = 0.237). There were no differences based on the application format burden (η 2 = 0.134); depression, anxiety, and stress (η 2 = 0.087); family empowerment (η 2 = 0,27), family functioning (η 2 = 0.219); and quality of life (η 2 = 0.006), respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides relevant data about the possibility of implementing an intervention in a sample of family members of people with PD in an online format without losing its effectiveness. During the pandemic, and despite the initial reluctance of family members and the therapists to carry out the interventions online, this work shows the effectiveness of the results and the satisfaction of the family members. These results are particularly relevant in a pandemic context, where there was no possibility of providing help in other ways. All of this represents a great step forward in terms of providing psychological treatment.

The role of emotion regulation and maternal symptoms in Turkish mothers' caregiving helplessness during toddlerhood

To support mothers' positive parenting practices and designing effective early interventions in developing countries like Turkey, understanding the factors associated with feelings of helplessness in caregiving can play an important role. Therefore, we explored how mothers' depression and anxiety symptoms, and emotion regulation strategies of expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal can contribute to caregiving helplessness during toddlerhood. We also examined whether depression and anxiety can mediate the relationship between emotion regulation strategies and caregiving helplessness. A sample of 552 healthy Turkish mothers (MAge = 32.11) with 1-4 year old healthy children (MAge = 1.51) replied to advertisements we shared face-to-face and filled out a pack of questionnaires including a demographic form, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Brief Symptom Inventory and Caregiving Helplessness Questionnaire. A series of path analysis were conducted to reveal the association between emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and emotional suppression), depression and anxiety symptoms, and caregiving helplessness. After controlling for socio-economic status (SES), maternal anxiety but not maternal depression positively predicted caregiving helplessnes. Unlike cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression positively predicted caregiving helplessness. SES had an indirect effect (via suppression) on caregiving helplessness on caregiving helplessness. In toddlerhood, maternal anxiety rather than depression, and expressive supression rather than cogntivie reappraisal could be potential risk factors for caregiving helplessness. Thus, these can be critical target areas for effective early interventions.

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

BACKGROUND

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.

METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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).

CONCLUSIONS

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.

Interventions for Family Members and Carers of Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review

Carers of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) experience high levels of distress. Several studies have been carried out on interventions designed to decrease their burden. However, the evidence from these studies has not been summarized. The objective of this work is to explore the clinical utility of interventions developed for family members of patients with BPD. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines (registration number CRD42018107318), including psychological interventions focused on relatives of patients with BPD. The following databases were used: PsycINFO, PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Web of Science. Two independent researchers reviewed the studies to determine whether the eligibility criteria were met. A total of 2,303 abstracts were identified. After duplicates had been removed, 1,746 studies were screened. Finally, 433 full-text articles were reviewed, yielding 11 studies that satisfied the inclusion criteria. Results show that these interventions with different clinical formats and settings are effective. The quality of the included studies varies, and the empirical support for these programs is still preliminary. The results help to establish a general framework for interventions specifically developed for family members of patients with BPD, but additional efforts should be made to improve the methodological quality of this field of research and more solidly determine the utility of these interventions. Given the paucity of data so far, this information may open up new lines of research to improve the effectiveness of future programs for carers of patients with BPD and help to reduce their burden.

Changes in Emotions Over the Course of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and the Moderating Role of Depression, Anxiety, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Evidence-based borderline personality disorder (BPD) treatments such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) emphasize the acquisition and use of strategies to down regulate negative emotion. However, little research examines whether specific emotions change during DBT. Further, it is unclear if BPD-relevant comorbidities that involve heightened emotion-namely, depression, anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-moderate these outcomes. This study investigated which specific emotions (hostility/anger, fear, shame/guilt, and sadness) decrease during DBT, and whether comorbid depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD moderate these outcomes. Individuals with BPD (N = 101) completed 6 months of standard DBT and provided measurements of specific emotions at every session and at pre-, mid-, and posttreatment. Generalized estimating equations revealed moderate effect-sized reductions in anger at major assessment time points. Anxiety disorders and PTSD moderated the effect of time on fear, shame, and guilt. PTSD also moderated the effect of time on sadness. For all moderating effects, individuals with the comorbidity exhibited greater reductions than those without. These findings corroborate that DBT reduces several specific emotions, and comorbid PTSD and anxiety disorders may facilitate this effect for fear, shame/guilt, and sadness (clinical trial registration number = NCT03123198).

Support, interventions and outcomes for families/carers of people with borderline personality disorder: A systematic review

It is clear from existent literature that families and carers of relatives and friends with borderline personality disorder (BPD) experience high levels of burden. Whilst family interventions are considered vital to improving the outcomes of those with a range of mental health difficulties, there has been limited development of direct interventions for carers of people with BPD, despite a high level of need. This systematic review aimed to appraise and synthesize the existing research evidence for interventions for carers of people with BPD. Ten studies were included that were directly related to six interventions for families and carers of people with personality disorder. The findings of these studies, whilst limited, do provide some initial evidence that interventions for carers may lead to significant outcomes for the participants, particularly in improving carer well-being and reducing carer burden. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An evaluation of the skills group component of DBT-A for parent/guardians: a mixed methods study

OBJECTIVES

Previous research indicates that dialectical behaviour therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) is effective in treating emotionally dysregulated adolescents with self-harm and/or suicidal ideation. As part of the DBT-A programme, parents attend the weekly skills group with their child. However, few studies have evaluated parental outcomes in DBT-A. This multi-site study aims to explore the outcomes and experiences of parents who participated in a 16-week DBT-A programme in Ireland.

METHODS

This study was conducted in community-based child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in the national public health system in Ireland. Participants were parent/guardians of adolescents attending a DBT-A programme in their local CAMHS. Participants attended the group skills component of the DBT-A programme. This study utilised a mixed methods approach where both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from participants. Self-report measures of burden, grief and parental stress were completed at pre-intervention, post-intervention and 16-week follow-up. Qualitative written feedback was obtained at post-intervention. The data were analysed using multi-level linear mixed-effects models and content analysis.

RESULTS

One hundred participants (76% female) took part in this study. Significant decreases were reported for objective burden, subjective burden, grief and parental stress from pre- to post-intervention (p < 0.01). Participants reported that the skills component of DBT-A was useful in meeting their own needs and the needs of their child.

DISCUSSION

DBT-A shows promise for parents as well as their adolescent child. Future studies should evaluate changes to family relationships following completion of the programme and also include controlled comparison groups.

Implementation of Dialectical Behavior Therapy with Suicidal and Self-Harming Adolescents in a Community Clinic

The object of this research was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with suicidal and self-harming adolescents treated in a community clinic. A group of 24 adolescents at high risk for suicide were enrolled in 6 months of comprehensive DBT, provided by therapists and trainees at a county-run outpatient mental health clinic serving disadvantaged, ethnic minority clients. Results showed significant pre/post-treatment decreases in suicide attempts, non-suicidal self-injury behaviors (NSSI), and suicidal ideation. Results also showed significant decreases in other suicide risk factors, including emotion dysregulation, depression, impulsivity, BPD symptoms, psychopathology, PTSD symptoms, and substance use, as well as increases in family expressiveness and reasons for living. Treatment retention and satisfaction rates were high. As many youth at risk for suicide will be treated in community settings, findings showing that receiving DBT in a community clinic resulted in significant improvements across a range of suicide risk factors are an important contribution to the adolescent suicide prevention literature.

Dialectical behaviour therapy for adolescents: a comparison of 16-week and 24-week programmes delivered in a public community setting

BACKGROUND

Dialectical behaviour therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) is an intervention with a growing evidence base for treating adolescents with emotional and behavioural dysregulation. Previous studies have reported on varying lengths of treatment, however, and optimal treatment duration has not yet been identified. While the treatment developers initially proposed a 16-week programme, they have more recently recommended an extension to 24 weeks. This study compares outcomes for adolescents and parent/guardians who participated in 16- and 24-week DBT-A programmes in a community setting.

METHODS

Eighty-four adolescents and 100 parent/guardians participated in 16-week DBT-A, while 68 adolescents and 67 parent/guardians participated in the 24-week programme. Outcome measures for adolescents included the presence and frequency of self-harm, suicidal ideation and depression; and for parents were burden, grief and parental stress. Outcomes were assessed at pre- and postintervention. Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate the treatment duration effect (24-week vs. 16-week) utilising all available data at pre- and postintervention.

RESULTS

Data analyses showed a reduction in the presence and frequency of self-harm at postintervention for adolescents in both programmes. Both adolescent and parent participants in the 16- and 24-week programmes also showed changes indicating significant improvement on all self-report outcome measures (p < .05). A treatment duration effect was identified with adolescents in the 24-week programme reporting greater gains on measures of suicidal ideation and depression (p < .05). However, drop-out rates were higher for the 24-week programme.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the current study indicate that 24-week DBT-A may have additional benefits in comparison to 16-week DBT-A in terms of further reductions in suicidal ideation and depression. Given the nature of this study, it was not possible to explore a potential time effect, however, so these results should be interpreted with caution. Further research will assist in determining an optimal programme duration of DBT-A.

The development and theoretical application of an implementation framework for dialectical behaviour therapy: a critical literature review

BACKGROUND

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is a third wave behaviour therapy combining behaviour based components with elements of mindfulness. Although DBT effectiveness has been explored, relatively little attention has been given to its implementation. Frameworks are often the basis for gathering information about implementation and can also direct how the implementation of an intervention is conducted. Using existing implementation frameworks, this critical literature review scoped the DBT implementation literature to develop and refine a bespoke DBT implementation framework.

METHOD AND RESULTS

The initial framework was developed by consolidating existing implementation frameworks and published guidance on DBT implementation. The critical literature review retrieved papers from Medline, CINAHL, PsycInfo, PubMed, and the reference lists of included papers. Framework elements were used as codes which were applied to the literature and guided the synthesis. Findings from the synthesis refined the framework.The critical literature review retrieved 60 papers but only 14 of these explicitly focused on implementation. The DBT implementation framework captured all the execution barriers and facilitators described in the literature. However, the evidence synthesis led to a more parsimonious framework as some elements (e.g., research and published guidance) were seldom discussed in DBT implementation.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge this is the first published review exploring DBT implementation. The literature synthesis suggests some tentative recommendations which warrant further exploration. For instance, if DBT implementation is not pre-planned, having someone in the organisation who champions DBT can be advantageous. However, as the literature is limited and has methodological limitations, further prospective studies of DBT implementation are needed.

Differential Change of Borderline Personality Disorder Traits During Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents

Despite the expansion of treatment options for adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD), research on treatment options for adolescent BPD is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) on the individual trait level as primary outcome; and the frequency of suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury, self-reported BPD core pathology, and general psychopathology as secondary outcomes. Seventy-two adolescents (aged 12-17 years) with full- or subsyndromal BPD were treated with DBT-A (25 single sessions, 20 sessions of skills training), and 13 patients (18.1%) withdrew during treatment. From baseline to post-treatment, the number of BPD traits decreased significantly (p ≤ .001). All secondary outcomes decreased significantly as well (p ≤ .001). Results of this uncontrolled study suggest that beside self-harm, DBT-A may also have a beneficial impact on other features of BPD.

Innovations in Practice: Dialectical behaviour therapy for adolescents: multisite implementation and evaluation of a 16-week programme in a public community mental health setting

BACKGROUND

Dialectical behaviour therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) is an intervention with a growing evidence base for treating adolescents with emotional and behavioural dysregulation. This study describes the implementation and effectiveness of 16-week DBT-A across multiple sites in publicly funded child/adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in Ireland.

METHOD

The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was used to guide this national implementation. Fifty-four clinicians from seven CAMHS teams completed DBT training and delivered the 16-week DBT-A programme. Eighty-four adolescents with emotional and behavioural dysregulation participated in the intervention and outcome measures were administered at preintervention, postintervention and 16-week follow-up.

RESULTS

Significant reductions on all outcome measures were observed for DBT-A participants including presence and frequency of self-harm, suicidal ideation and depression. Reductions in the number of acute inpatient admissions, bed days and emergency department visits were also reported.

CONCLUSIONS

DBT-A can be successfully implemented in CAMHS settings and yield positive outcomes for adolescents with emotional and behavioural dysregulation.

Preliminary evaluation of an intensive integrated individual and family therapy model for self-harming adolescents

BACKGROUND

To investigate the outcome of an integrated individual and family therapy (Intensive Contextual Treatment: ICT) in terms of reducing suffering and increasing functional adjustment among self-harming and/or suicidal adolescents with high symptom loads and their families.

METHODS

Forty-nine self-harming and/or suicidal adolescents, Mage = 14.6, of predominantly Swedish origin and female gender (85.7%) participated with their parents. The study had a within group design with repeated measures at pre- and post-treatment, as well as six- and twelve-months follow-ups. Self-reports were used for the main outcomes; self-harm rates, suicide attempts, parent-reported days of inpatient/institutional care, internalized and externalized symptoms, perceived stress, emotion regulation, school hours and adjustment. Secondary outcomes were levels of reported expressed emotions within family dyads, as well as parental anxiety, depression and stress.

RESULTS

From pre- to post-assessment, the adolescents reported significant reductions of self-harm (p = .001, d = 0.54) and suicide attempts (p < .0001, d = 1.38). Parent-reported days of inpatient/institutional care were reduced, as well as parent- and adolescent-reported internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Furthermore, school attendance and adjustment were improved, and the adolescents reported experiencing less criticism while parents reported less emotional over-involvement. The results were maintained at follow-ups.

CONCLUSIONS

The adolescents and the parents reported improvements for the main outcomes. This treatment appears promising in keeping the families in treatment and out of hospital, suggesting that an integrative approach may be beneficial and feasible for this group.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study has been approved 19/12 2011, by the regional review board in Stockholm (Dnr 2011/1593-31/5).

Development and Validation of the Treatment Attrition-Retention Scale for Personality Disorders

This study is an investigation of the psychometric properties of the Treatment Attrition-Retention Scale for Personality Disorders (TARS-PD), an instrument developed to identify patients with personality disorder (PD) at risk of early dropout from psychotherapy. In a first study, assessment files from 320 patients referred for PD evaluation at an outpatient clinic were examined to assess the instrument's inter-rater reliability, construct validity, and discriminant validity. Results showed that the global scale could be scored with excellent reliability. Exploratory factor analysis identified five factors: Narcissism, Psychopathy, Secondary gains, Low motivation, and Cluster A features. A second study focused on the scale's predictive validity. The TARS-PD showed high specificity (94%) in identifying dropouts, using a cut-off of ≥ 10. Both global and factor scores from the TARS-PD were significant predictors of treatment status (dropout vs. continuation) at 6 months. The scale should be considered promising for PD evaluation and treatment planning.

An implementation-effectiveness hybrid trial of video-based family therapy for peripartum depression in home visited mothers: a protocol for a pilot trial

Background

The Federal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (HV) Program serves over 100,000 vulnerable families at risk for child abuse in the USA and aims to improve many outcomes, including maternal mental health (HRSA’s Federal Home Visiting Program: partnering with parents to help children succeed, 2017). Most clients are insured by Medicaid, and about 40% are adolescent mothers (pregnant and post-delivery) (The mother and infant home visiting program evaluation: early findings on the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, 2015). Over a third of home-visited clients report peripartum depressive symptoms (The mother and infant home visiting program evaluation: early findings on the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, 2015). Family conflict increases rates of peripartum depression in adolescent mothers (J Ped Health Care 21:289–98, 2007; J Emot Behav Disord 5:173–83, 1997; Fam Relat 47:395–402, 1998; Arch Ped Adolesc Med 150:64–9, 1996; Obstet Gynecol 110:134–40, 2007; Am Fam Physician 93:852–58, 2016). Although home visitors screen for depression and refer those with positive screens for treatment (The mother and infant home visiting program evaluation: early findings on the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, 2015), home-visited mothers infrequently obtain treatment or do not complete it if they do obtain it (Curr Probl Ped Adolesc Health Care 46:124–9, 2016; Making a difference in the lives of children and families: the impacts of Early Head Start Programs on infants and toddlers and their families, 2002; Depression and low-income women: challenges for TANF and welfare-to-work policies and programs, 2001; Aggress Violent Behav 15:191–200, 2010) due to many barriers (e.g., lack of child care, lack of transportation, geographical distance) (Arch Gen Psychiatry 68:627–36, 2011). There is a need for a video-based, family-oriented treatment for peripartum depression that is integrated into home visiting and would bypass these barriers. This article outlines a protocol for a pilot study that will explore the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a family-based treatment, using HIPAA-compliant video-based communication technology, for adolescents with peripartum depressive symptoms within the context of home visiting.

Methods

This study protocol includes a description of an implementation-effectiveness hybrid trial design that will include 12 depressed adolescent mothers and their family members and a historical comparison group of 12 previously enrolled adolescent mothers.

Discussion

The study results will provide a clearer understanding of whether or not video-based, family-oriented treatment is feasible and acceptable to implement within the context of home visiting and with home-visited adolescents with peripartum depressive symptoms. The findings from this pilot study could serve as a catalyst for future research that influences mental health practices and policies.

Trial registration

NCT03282448, ClinicalTrials.gov date of registration 09/21/2017.

Meeting report of the 2nd German dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents network meeting

Over the past 30 years, dialectical behavior therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for adult borderline personality disorder. The adaptation of DBT for adolescents (DBT-A) in different patient groups has also led to some promising improvements of the respective psychopathology. During the second German DBT-A network meeting in 2015 in Mainz, Germany, a need for further research and innovative approaches in treatment of adolescents became apparent and resulted in controversial discussions. Main issues were enlarging evidence of effectiveness of DBT-A strategies with regard to family interaction, i.e. involving caregivers in treatment. In general, there seems to be a dire need for disentangling different therapeutic strategies and resulting treatment outcomes, especially concerning the needs of different patient groups. Additionally, the implementation of smartphone-based real life assessment and intervention into DBT-A was discussed extensively. Providing time congruent skills within an application, decreasing aversive tension and reducing dysfunctional behavior could lead to an enhanced therapist-patient interaction. This meeting report presents the core issues raised during the network meeting and discusses their implications for further research.

Perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation in undergraduate women with varying levels of mindfulness

Research has demonstrated that perceived stress and depression are risk factors for suicidal ideation in young adults, particularly women attending college. Female undergraduate students (N = 928) were administered measures assessing their levels of stress, depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, and mindfulness. A moderated-mediation analysis was conducted to examine the complex associations among these variables. Results indicated that mindfulness moderated the mediated effect of depressive symptoms on perceived stress and suicidal ideation. Specifically, the indirect effect was stronger in college women with lower levels of mindfulness as compared to those students who reported higher mindfulness. Thus, teaching mindfulness techniques on college campuses may be an important strategy for preventing suicide, especially among young adult women experiencing stress and depressive symptoms.

Toward Treatment Integrity: Developing an Approach to Measure the Treatment Integrity of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Intervention With Homeless Youth in the Community

The current paper discusses an approach to measuring treatment integrity of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) when implemented within two programs providing services to street-involved youth in the community. Measuring treatment integrity is a critical component of effective implementation of evidence-based interventions in clinical practice, since sound treatment integrity increases confidence in client outcomes and intervention replicability. Despite being an essential part of implementation science, few studies report on treatment integrity, with limited research addressing either measurement tools or maintenance of treatment integrity. To address the lack of available treatment integrity measures, researchers in the current study developed and piloted a treatment integrity measure which pertain to the individual and group components of DBT. A total of 20 recordings were assessed using the treatment integrity measure. Results indicate that the community agency staff (e.g. youth workers, social workers & nurses) implemented the intervention as intended; increasing confidence in the outcome variables, the staffs' training and the replicability of the intervention. This article offers one approach to addressing treatment integrity when implementing evidence-based interventions, such as DBT in a community setting, and discusses the need for effective and feasible integrity measures that can be adopted in order to strengthen mental health practice in community settings.

Mentalization-based treatment in groups for adolescents with borderline personality disorder (BPD) or subthreshold BPD versus treatment as usual (M-GAB): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Evidence-based outpatient psychotherapeutic programs are first-line treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Early and effective treatment of BPD is crucial to the prevention of its individual, psychosocial, and economic consequences. However, in spite of recent advantages in diagnosing adolescent BPD, there is a lack of cost-effective evidence-based treatment programs for adolescents. Mentalization-based treatment is an evidence-based program for BPD, originally developed for adults.

Methods/Design

Aims/hypotheses: We will investigate whether a specifically designed mentalization-based treatment in groups is an efficacious treatment for adolescents with BPD or subthreshold BPD compared to treatment as usual. The trial is a four-center, two-armed, parallel-group, assessor-blinded randomized clinical superiority trial. One hundred twelve patients aged 14 to 17 referred to Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics in Region Zealand are randomized to 1 year of either mentalization-based treatment in groups or treatment as usual. Patients will be included if they meet at least four DSM-5 criteria for BPD. The primary outcome is self-reported borderline features at discharge. Secondary outcomes will include self-harm, depression, BPD criteria, externalizing and internalizing symptoms, and social functioning, together with parental reports on borderline features, externalizing and internalizing symptoms. Measures of attachment and mentalization will be included as mediational variables. Follow-up assessment will take place at 3 and 12 months after end of treatment.

Discussion

This is the first randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of a group-based mentalization-based treatment for adolescents with BPD or subthreshold BPD. If the results confirm our hypothesis, this trial will add to the treatment options of cost-effective treatment of adolescent BPD.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02068326, February 19, 2014.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-016-1431-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effectiveness of a modified dialectical behaviour therapy for adolescents within a stepped-care model

OBJECTIVE

Early intervention with evidence-based treatment is important to halt the progression from early manifestations of personality disorder traits to adult personality disorders. The purpose of this study is to evaluate dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) modified for an adolescent population with borderline personality disorder (BPD), offered within a stepped-care model.

METHODS

Seven adolescents (M=1, F=6, Mage=16.86) diagnosed with either BPD or BPD traits participated in a modified 15-week DBT group. The group was offered within a stepped-care model, which required participants to have previously completed an 8-week distress-tolerance module. Pre/post scores on self-report measures of BPD symptomatology, including impulse control, emotional regulation and awareness, anxiety, depression, and substance use, were collected.

RESULTS

Participants showed a post-treatment decrease in anxiety symptoms (large effect size) and disruptive behaviours (medium effect size). There was also an increase in emotional symptoms (medium effect size) and hyperactivity/inattention (medium effect size).

CONCLUSION

The modified DBT group shows promise in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and some of the disruptive behaviours associated with BPD. The increase in emotional symptoms may be due to the expressive nature of DBT, and may contribute to their eventual therapeutic processing in the next step of the program.

Dialectical behavior therapy for nonsuicidal self-injury and depression among adolescents: preliminary meta-analytic evidence

BACKGROUND

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has proven effective in reducing symptoms and behaviors related to Borderline Personality Disorder. More recently, it has been modified and applied to adolescents struggling with regulating their emotions and who may engage in impulsive, self-destructive behaviors, including nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, there is limited research evidence regarding the effectiveness of DBT for reducing NSSI behavior and depression among adolescents. Given the high suicide risk associated with NSSI and its association with depression, this is clearly an important focus of clinical and research attention.

METHOD

This meta-analysis sought to offer preliminary evidence regarding the effectiveness of DBT to treat NSSI and depression in adolescents. Twelve published studies were included; all 12 reported pre- and post-treatment measures of depression and six of these studies reported pre- and post-treatment measures of NSSI.

RESULTS

The weighted mean effect size for NSSI was large (g = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.59-1.03); the weighted mean effect size for depression was small (g = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.30-0.42).

CONCLUSIONS

Intervention effects for both outcomes were positive, suggesting decreased NSSI and improvement in depressive symptoms for adolescents following a course of DBT. However, given considerable limitations in the research base available for meta-analysis, these findings are preliminary and tentative. Limitations in the current knowledge base and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Outpatient Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents Engaged in Deliberate Self-Harm: Conceptual and Methodological Considerations

The current review examines conceptual and methodological issues related to the use of dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) in treating youth who engage in deliberate self-harm. A comprehensive review of the literature identified six studies appropriate for the review. Results indicated several inconsistencies and limitations across studies including the mixing of various forms of self-harm; variations in diagnostic inclusion/exclusion criteria, insufficient use of standardized self-harm outcome measures, variable lengths and intensity of provided treatment, and inadequate attention paid to DBT adherence. Each of these areas is reviewed along with a discussion of ways to improve the quality of future research.

Exposure to Violence, Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, and Borderline Personality Pathology Among Adolescents in Residential Psychiatric Treatment: The Influence of Emotion Dysregulation

Exposure to violence during adolescence is a highly prevalent phenomenon associated with a range of deleterious outcomes. Theoretical literature suggests that emotion dysregulation is one consequence of exposure to violence associated with the manifestation of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and borderline personality (BP) pathology. Thus, the goal of the present study was to examine the mediating role of emotion dysregulation in the relation between exposure to violence and both PTSS and BP pathology in a sample of 144 adolescents (age 10- to 17-years; 51% male; 55% African American) admitted to a psychiatric residential treatment center. Exposure to violence was associated with greater emotion dysregulation, which, in turn, was associated with greater PTSS and BP pathology. Furthermore, emotion dysregulation mediated the associations between exposure to violence and both PTSS and BP pathology. Findings suggest the importance of assessing and treating emotion dysregulation among violence-exposed adolescents in psychiatric residential treatment.

Parents of youth who self-injure: a review of the literature and implications for mental health professionals

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a common mental health concern among youth, and parents can be valuable supports for these youth. However, youth NSSI can have a significant impact on parents' wellbeing, which may in turn alter parents' ability to support the youth. To date, no single article has consolidated the research on parents of youth who self-injure. This review synthesizes the literature on parent factors implicated in youth NSSI risk, the role of parents in help-seeking and intervention for youth NSSI, and the impact of youth NSSI on parent wellbeing and parenting. Clinical implications for supporting parents as they support the youth are also discussed, and recommendations for future research are outlined.

Does Insurance Matter? Implementing Dialectical Behavior Therapy with Two Groups of Youth Engaged in Deliberate Self-harm

This paper presents the outcomes of a Dialectical Behavior Treatment (DBT) program, implemented in intensive outpatient care with two groups of adolescents (n = 55 and n = 45), ages 12-18, who engaged in deliberate self-harm (DSH) but had different insurance/funding sources and risk backgrounds. This pre-post study examined variability in clinical functioning and treatment utilization between the two groups and investigated moderating risk factors. Findings support DBT's effectiveness in improving clinical functioning for youth with DSH regardless of insurance type. However, lower rates of treatment completion among youth without private insurance call for extra engagement efforts to retain high-risk youth in DBT.

Adapted Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents with Self-injurious Thoughts and Behaviors

The purpose of this study was to explore clinical changes observed in suicidal adolescents treated with an adapted form of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for adolescents (A-DBT-A) in a tertiary care setting. We conducted an open-label naturalistic study including 61 adolescents with self-injurious thoughts and behaviors and associated features of borderline personality disorder, who underwent a 15-week course of A-DBT-A. Pre- and post-treatment measures were administered, the primary outcome being the total score on the Suicidal Ideas Questionnaire. Self-harm, symptoms of borderline personality disorder, resiliency measures, predictors of response, and predictors of attrition were also explored. Among participants who completed post-treatment measures, we found a significant reduction in suicidal ideation (n = 31, p < 0.001). Secondary outcomes also suggested improvement. Baseline substance use predicted attrition (HR 2.51; 95% CI 1.03-6.14; p < 0.05), as did baseline impulsivity score on the Life Problems Inventory (HR 1.03; 95% CI 1.004-1.06; p < 0.05). Overall, we observed clinical improvements in adolescents receiving A-DBT-A.

Dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents with repeated suicidal and self-harming behavior: a randomized trial

OBJECTIVE

We examined whether a shortened form of dialectical behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) is more effective than enhanced usual care (EUC) to reduce self-harm in adolescents.

METHOD

This was a randomized study of 77 adolescents with recent and repetitive self-harm treated at community child and adolescent psychiatric outpatient clinics who were randomly allocated to either DBT-A or EUC. Assessments of self-harm, suicidal ideation, depression, hopelessness, and symptoms of borderline personality disorder were made at baseline and after 9, 15, and 19 weeks (end of trial period), and frequency of hospitalizations and emergency department visits over the trial period were recorded.

RESULTS

Treatment retention was generally good in both treatment conditions, and the use of emergency services was low. DBT-A was superior to EUC in reducing self-harm, suicidal ideation, and depressive symptoms. Effect sizes were large for treatment outcomes in patients who received DBT-A, whereas effect sizes were small for outcomes in patients receiving EUC. Total number of treatment contacts was found to be a partial mediator of the association between treatment and changes in the severity of suicidal ideation, whereas no mediation effects were found on the other outcomes or for total treatment time.

CONCLUSION

DBT-A may be an effective intervention to reduce self-harm, suicidal ideation, and depression in adolescents with repetitive self-harming behavior. Clinical trial registration information-Treatment for Adolescents With Deliberate Self Harm; http://ClinicalTrials.gov/; NCT00675129.

Feasibility of dialectical behavior therapy with suicidal and self-harming adolescents with multi-problems: training, adherence, and retention

We evaluated the feasibility of DBT training, adherence, and retention preparing for a randomized controlled trial of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) adapted for Norwegian adolescents engaging in self-harming behavior and diagnosed with features of borderline personality disorder. Therapists were intensively trained and evaluated for adherence. Adherence scores, treatment retention, and present and previous self-harm were assessed. Twenty-seven patients were included (mean age 15.7 years), all of them with recent self-harming behaviors and at least 3 features of Borderline Personality Disorder. Therapists were adherent and 21 (78%) patients completed the whole treatment. Three subjects reported self-harm at the end of treatment, and urges to self-harm decreased. At follow up, 7 of 10 subjects reported no self-harm. DBT was found to be well accepted and feasible. Randomized controlled trials are required to test the effectiveness of DBT for adolescents.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for the Treatment of Emotion Dysregulation and Trauma Symptoms in Self-Injurious and Suicidal Adolescent Females: A Pilot Programme within a Community-Based Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service

Background. The literature suggests a link between childhood trauma and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, including nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidality. We assessed the impact of a pilot dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) programme on reducing trauma-related symptoms and improving emotional regulation, suicidality, and NSSI in adolescents. Methods. Six adolescents attending a community mental health service received 26 weeks of DBT, together with a parent. Independent assessors collected measures on each participant at baseline, posttreatment, and three-month followup. We implemented further improvements over past research with the use of adolescent-specific outcome measures as well as independent assessment of treatment integrity, noted as problematic in previous studies, using videotapes. Results. Firstly, adolescents reported a decrease in trauma-based symptoms, suicidality, and NSSI following participation in the DBT programme that was maintained at the three-month followup. Secondly, adolescents also reported improved emotion regulation immediately following treatment, and this was maintained, albeit more moderately, three months later. Given the burgeoning demand on mental health services, it is notable that five of the six adolescents were discharged from the service following the DBT intervention. Conclusions. The results of this pilot programme suggest that DBT has the potential to improve the symptoms of this at-risk population.

Effectiveness, response, and dropout of dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder in an inpatient setting

To examine the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy for inpatients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), small sample sizes and, predominantly, tests of statistical significance have been used so far. We studied 1423 consecutively admitted individuals with BPD, who were seeking a 3-month inpatient treatment. They completed the Borderline Symptom List (BSL) as the main outcome measure, and other self-rating measures at pre- and post-treatment. Therapy outcome was defined in three ways: effect size (ES), response based on the reliable change index, and remission compared to the general population symptom level. Non-parametric conditional inference trees were used to predict dropouts. In the pre-post comparison of the BSL, the ES was 0.54 (95% CI: 0.49-0.59). The response rate was 45%; 31% remained unchanged, and 11% deteriorated. Approximately 15% showed a symptom level equivalent to that of the general population. A further 10% of participants dropped out. A predictive impact on dropout was demonstrated by substance use disorders and a younger age at pre-treatment. In future research, follow-up assessments should be conducted to investigate the extent to which response and remission rates at post-treatment remain stable over time. A consistent definition of response appears to be essential for cross-study and cross-methodological comparisons.

Using Mindfulness- and Acceptance-Based Treatments With Clients From Nondominant Cultural and/or Marginalized Backgrounds: Clinical Considerations, Meta-Analysis Findings, and Introduction to the Special Series

A growing body of research suggests that mindfulness- and acceptance-based principles can increase efforts aimed at reducing human suffering and increasing quality of life. A critical step in the development and evaluation of these new approaches to treatment is to determine the acceptability and efficacy of these treatments for clients from nondominant cultural and/or marginalized backgrounds. This special series brings together the wisdom of clinicians and researchers who are currently engaged in clinical practice and treatment research with populations who are historically underrepresented in the treatment literature. As an introduction to the series, this paper presents a theoretical background and research context for the papers in the series, highlights the elements of mindfulness- and acceptance-based treatments that may be congruent with culturally responsive treatment, and briefly outlines the general principles of cultural competence and responsive treatment. Additionally, the results of a meta-analysis of mindfulness- and acceptance-based treatments with clients from nondominant cultural and/or marginalized backgrounds are presented. Our search yielded 32 studies totaling 2,198 clients. Results suggest small (Hedges' g=.38, 95% CI=.11 - .64) to large (Hedges' g=1.32, 95% CI=.61 - 2.02) effect sizes for mindfulness- and acceptance-based treatments, which varied by study design.

Dialectical behaviour therapy with adolescents

BACKGROUND

  Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is the first empirically validated treatment for chronically suicidal patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Numerous randomised clinical trials conducted with adults with BPD have demonstrated that DBT is effective in reducing suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious (NSSI) behaviours. Other research on the use of DBT for adults has shown that the treatment is effective in reducing a variety of problem behaviours in a range of therapeutic settings. In the last decade, a number of studies have evaluated DBT as a promising treatment for adolescents with different psychological disorders and behaviours, including borderline personality disorder (BPD), eating disorders, externalising disorders, and suicidal and NSSI behaviours. This article reviews the literature on the use of DBT with adolescents.

RESULTS

  Overall findings indicate some empirical support for the conclusion that DBT is a promising treatment for adolescents with BPD symptomatology, suicidal ideation and comorbid depression, bipolar disorder, disordered eating behaviours and aggressive and impulsive behaviours. Adolescents in these studies were also hospitalised less frequently when treated with DBT. Moreover, studies conducted with these populations suggest that DBT may be adapted for use in outpatient, inpatient, community, and residential treatment settings.

CONCLUSIONS

  The authors conclude that DBT may be effective in treating adolescents with additional disorders and dysfunctional behaviours not yet examined. Data from soon to be completed randomised controlled trials need to be published.

Treatment completion in psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been associated with problematically low treatment completion rates.

METHOD

PsycInfo and Medline were systematically searched to identify studies providing information on treatment completion in psychotherapy models that have been shown to be effective for BPD. A meta-analysis of treatment completion rates and a narrative analysis of factors predicting dropout were conducted.

RESULTS

Forty-one studies were included, with completion rates ranging from 36% to 100%- a substantial between-study heterogeneity. Random effects meta-analyses yielded an overall completion rate of 75% (95% CI: 68-82%) for interventions of <12 months duration, and 71% (95% CI: 65-76%) for longer interventions. Egger's test for publication bias was significant for both analyses (P ≤ 0.01). Study characteristics such as treatment model and treatment setting did not explain between-study heterogeneity. In individual studies, factors predicting dropout status included commitment to change, the therapeutic relationship and impulsivity, whilst sociodemographics were consistently non-predictive.

CONCLUSION

Borderline personality disorder should no longer be associated with high rates of dropout from treatment. However, the substantial variation in completion rates between studies remains unexplained. Research on the psychological processes involved in dropping out of treatment could further improve dropout rates.

Dialectical behavior therapy for suicidal adolescents with borderline personality disorder

Although research to date on dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for adolescents has its limitations, growing evidence suggests that DBT is a promising treatment for adolescents with a range of problematic behaviors, including but not limited to suicidal and nonsuicidal self-injury. This article introduces dialectical behavior therapy's theoretical underpinnings, describes its adaptation for suicidal adolescents, and provides a brief review of the empirical literature evaluating DBT with adolescents.