Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a promising model of intervention designed for people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. DBT uses many cognitive-behavioral principles to assist consumers in regulating emotion, managing stress, and developing a reality orientation. Stress tolerance is supported through mindfulness principles associated with Buddhist meditation. The combination of approaches can be applied in individual and group practice.

Findings indicate that DBT intervention:

• Decreases suicide attempts and self injury
• Improves psychological adjustment
• Promotes treatment retention
• Decreases drug use
• Decreases symptomatic behavior

Challenges for Providers:

• Often not well supported by MDHHS requiring provider-level investment
• Training can be expensive
• There are no code modifiers making it hard to track and evaluate
• DBT staff can become stressed with multiple Axis II consumers

Upside for Providers:

• A fairly effective intervention for a challenging population
• Consumers tend to respond well to the concepts and overall approach
• Concepts are easily integrated into agency practices such as ACT and IDDT

Links:

• Star Center Manual
• Mindfulness Worksheet
• DBT Activities Website