Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Emotion Dysregulation - Report of Two Cases

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Emotion dysregulation, the inability to manage affective states, is linked to mental health disorders.
• Secure attachment in childhood is crucial for developing emotional regulation skills.
• Disrupted attachment can impair emotional regulation and lead to social maladjustment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as an early intervention for adolescents with emotional dysregulation.
• To assess the impact of DBT on interpersonal effectiveness and social adjustment.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post case study design involving two adolescents with self-harm behaviors and provisional personality disorder diagnoses.
• In-depth assessment identified emotional dysregulation as the primary issue.
• A 12-16 session model of DBT, adapted for non-clinical populations, was administered.

Main Results:

• Positive outcomes were observed following DBT intervention.
• Improvements in interpersonal effectiveness were sustained during 12-24 months of follow-up.
• DBT enhanced social adjustment by modifying attribution styles.

Conclusions:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) serves as an effective early intervention for adolescent emotional dysregulation.
• DBT can significantly improve emotional regulation, interpersonal skills, and social adjustment.
• Altering attribution styles through DBT contributes to enhanced social functioning.