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Dialectical Behavior Therapy Adapted for Suicidal Adolescents
Author(s) -
Rathus Jill H.,
Miller Alec L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1521/suli.32.2.146.24399
Subject(s) - dialectical behavior therapy , borderline personality disorder , suicidal ideation , group psychotherapy , clinical psychology , psychology , psychodynamic psychotherapy , psychiatry , psychotherapist , personality , medicine , poison control , suicide prevention , social psychology , environmental health
We report a quasi‐experimental investigation of an adaptation of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with a group of suicidal adolescents with borderline personality features. The DBT group ( n = 29) received 12 weeks of twice weekly therapy consisting of individual therapy and a multifamily skills training group. The treatment as usual (TAU) group ( n = 82) received 12 weeks of twice weekly supportive‐psychodynamic individual therapy plus weekly family therapy. Despite more severe pre‐treatment symptomatology in the DBT group, at post‐treatment this group had significantly fewer psychiatric hospitalizations during treatment, and a significantly higher rate of treatment completion than the TAU group. There were no significant differences in the number of suicide attempts made during treatment. Examining pre‐post change within the DBT group, there were significant reductions in suicidal ideation, general psychiatric symptoms, and symptoms of borderline personality. DBT appears to be a promising treatment for suicidal adolescents with borderline personality characteristics.