Two-Year Randomized Controlled Trial and Follow-up of Dialectical Behavior Therapy vs Therapy by Experts for Suicidal Behaviors and Borderline Personality Disorder

This study evaluated the hypothesis that unique aspects of dialectical behaviour therapy are more efficacious compared with treatment offered by non-behavioural psychotherapy experts. A one-year randomized control trial plus 1 year of posttreatment follow-up was conducted with 101 clinically referred women with recent suicidal & self-injurious behaviours. Dialetical behaviour therapy was associated with better outcomes in the intent-to-treat analysis than community treatments by experts in most target areas. Subjects receiving dialectical behaviour therapy were half as likely to make a suicide attempt, required less hospitalization for suicide ideation, & had lower medical risk across all suicide attempts & self-injurious acts combined. 42 refs.)