Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder

Palo Alto (17 mi)

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Travel: May be covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: N/A

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?This trial uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help adolescents aged 13-20 with borderline personality disorder symptoms. The therapy teaches them skills to manage emotions, cope with stress, and improve relationships. DBT has been adapted and studied for adolescents with various psychiatric disorders, including borderline personality disorder, and has shown promise in reducing problematic behaviors.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adolescents aged 13-20 with borderline personality disorder, showing impulsive behavior or self-harm. They must live close to the clinic and have a caregiver join in treatment. Participants can't be in other talk therapies, must understand English, have an IQ above 70, and not require services for conditions like schizophrenia.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 13-17 years old, or 18-20 and living with my parents.

Exclusion Criteria

I do not speak English.

My IQ is below 70.

I need mental health services not offered here, like for schizophrenia or severe anorexia, or I'm already getting the best treatment elsewhere.

Treatment Details

The study tests Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT-A) specifically designed for teenagers at Rutgers University's DBT Clinic. It involves six months of therapy with assessments throughout the process to track progress and effectiveness.

1Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: DBT-AExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

The standard treatment to be delivered to all participants is DBT-A, which is a treatment model adapted from DBT. DBT-A is an adaptation for adolescents with emotion dysregulation and BPD features (Miller, Rathus, \& Linehan, 2007; Rathus \& Miller, 2015). DBT-A involves weekly individual therapy with the adolescent, weekly multifamily skills group in which adolescents and family members participate, as needed phone coaching, and weekly consultation team for the therapists.