Dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents with repeated suicidal and self-harming behavior: a randomized trial

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Psychotherapy Research
• Mental Health Interventions

Background:

• Repetitive self-harm is a significant concern in adolescents.
• Existing treatments may not be sufficient for all adolescents experiencing self-harm.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) compared to enhanced usual care (EUC).
• To assess the impact of DBT-A on reducing self-harm and associated symptoms in adolescents.

Main Methods:

• A randomized study involving 77 adolescents with recent and repetitive self-harm.
• Participants were allocated to either DBT-A or EUC.
• Assessments included self-harm, suicidal ideation, depression, and borderline personality disorder symptoms over 19 weeks.

Main Results:

• DBT-A was superior to EUC in reducing self-harm, suicidal ideation, and depressive symptoms.
• Large effect sizes were observed for DBT-A outcomes, while EUC showed small effect sizes.
• Treatment retention was good, and emergency service use was low in both groups.

Conclusions:

• DBT-A appears to be an effective intervention for adolescents with repetitive self-harming behaviors.
• The findings suggest DBT-A can reduce self-harm, suicidal ideation, and depression in this population.
• Further research supports DBT-A as a valuable therapeutic option.