[Dialectical behavior therapy : a review of studies on skills training groups and applications in psychiatric...

Patients suffering from borderline personality disorder (BPD) represent a substantial proportion of hospitalized and outpatient patients in psychiatry. They use up to 40% of mental health resources. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is one of the best studied treatment for this population. Unfortunately, its deployment in Quebec remains quite limited partly because resources are lacking to provide individual therapy and a response to emergency calls. Although the complete package, as originally studied, is not widely available, several psychiatric departments offer skills training groups for patients with BPD. This article aims to provide a brief overview of the DBT model, review studies on DBT groups and some existing adaptations to the original model. The author will also present the model used in two psychiatric settings, the Centre de Santé et Services Sociaux du Sud de Lanaudière and Pavilion Albert-Prévost, as well as the adaptations in the context of transfers to community health settings.