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Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Dialectical behavior therapy skills for transdiagnostic emotion dysregulation: a pilot randomized controlled trial
Andrada D Neacsiu1, Jeremy W Eberle2, Rachel Kramer2
1Cognitive-Behavioral Research and Therapy Program, Duke University Medical Center (3026), 2213 Elba Street, Room 123, Durham, NC 27710, USA; University of Washington, USA.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training (DBT-ST) effectively reduces emotion dysregulation and anxiety in adults with mood and anxiety disorders. Increased DBT skills use was found to mediate these positive treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Therapy
Background:
- Emotion dysregulation is prevalent in mood and anxiety disorders.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training (DBT-ST) is effective for emotion dysregulation in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
- DBT skills use may mediate treatment outcomes in BPD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess DBT-ST as a standalone, transdiagnostic treatment for emotion dysregulation.
- To examine DBT skills use as a mediator of treatment outcomes.
- To evaluate DBT-ST in non-BPD adults with high emotion dysregulation.
Main Methods:
- 44 anxious/depressed adults with high emotion dysregulation were randomized to DBT-ST or an activities-based support group (ASG).
- 16-week treatment with assessments every 2 months, including post-treatment.
- Measures included emotion dysregulation, DBT skills use, and psychopathology.
Main Results:
- DBT-ST significantly decreased emotion dysregulation (d=1.86) and anxiety (d=1.37) compared to ASG.
- DBT-ST increased DBT skills use (d=1.02).
- Skills use mediated the observed treatment effects; depression outcomes were not significant (d=0.73).
Conclusions:
- DBT-ST is a promising transdiagnostic treatment for emotion dysregulation in adults with anxiety and depression.
- Further assessment of DBT-ST feasibility is warranted.
- DBT skills use is a key mediator of treatment success.
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