Dialectical behavior therapy-skills system for cognitively challenged individuals with self-harm: a Swedish pilot...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an established treatment for self-harm and emotion regulation issues.
• DBT-Skills System (DBT-SS) is a modified DBT approach developed in the USA for individuals with cognitive challenges.
• This study piloted the DBT-SS in a Swedish clinical setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of DBT-SS in a Swedish population.
• To assess the impact of DBT-SS on challenging behaviors, daily functioning, and resilience in individuals with cognitive difficulties.

Main Methods:

• A case series design involving six participants undergoing 48 sessions of individual therapy and group skills training.
• Primary outcome: reduction in challenging behaviors. Secondary outcomes: daily functioning, hospital admissions, resilience, and vulnerabilities.
• Data analysis included time-series diagrams and Cohen's d for effect sizes.

Main Results:

• Significant decrease in challenging behaviors and increase in global functioning observed over time.
• A reduction in hospital admissions was noted during the study period.
• Overall risk levels in various domains remained stable or decreased, indicating potential improvements in resilience.

Conclusions:

• DBT-SS appears to be a promising intervention for individuals with cognitive challenges experiencing emotion regulation difficulties and challenging behaviors in Sweden.
• The findings support the need for further investigation through a randomized controlled trial.
• The study provides valuable insights for adapting DBT-SS for diverse clinical populations.