Abstract
Objective: The objective was to quantitatively and qualitatively examine the efficacy of DBT (e.g., decreasing life-threatening suicidal and parasuicidal acts, attrition, and depression) explicitly with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and using conservative assumptions and criteria, across treatment providers and settings. Method: Five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified in a systematic search that examined the efficacy of DBT in reducing suicide attempts, parasuicidal behavior, attrition during treatment, or symptoms of depression, in adult patients with BPD. Results: Combining effect measures for suicide and parasuicidal behavior (five studies total) revealed a net benefit in favor of DBT (pooled Hedges' g -0.622). DBT was only marginally better than treatment as usual (TAU) in reducing attrition during treatment in five RCTs (pooled risk difference -0.168). DBT was not significantly different from TAU in reducing depression symptoms in three RCTs (pooled Hedges' g -0.896). Discussion: DBT demonstrates efficacy in stabilizing and controlling self-destructive behavior and improving patient compliance.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 213-223 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Research on Social Work Practice |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- TAU
- adults
- attrition
- borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- evidence-based practice
- field of practice
- mental health
- meta-analysis
- methodological article
- outcome study
- population
- randomized controlled trial (RCT)
- suicide prevention
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Sociology and Political Science
- General Psychology