Brief Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT-B) for Suicidal Behavior and Non-Suicidal Self Injury

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a shorter course of Dialectical Behavior Therapy in enhancing treatment retention & reducing urges to engage in non-suicidal self-injury, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide ideation, & subjective distress in borderline personality disorder. 20 patients with borderline personality disorder received a six-month course of Dialectical Behavior Therapy. All variables were measured at baseline & at 6 months. Treatment retention was 95%. Significant reductions were found in non-suicidal self-injury urges, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide ideation, subjective distress, depression, & hopelessness between baseline & 6 months. (16 refs.)