Linehan (Linehan, Armstrong, Suarez, Allmon, & Heard, 1991) compared one group of 22 females (aged 18-45 years) with BPD who underwent DBT for 1 year and 22 matched females with BPD who underwent treatment as usual in the community. The subjects were assessed at pretreatment and at 4, 8, and 12 months posttreatment. There was a significant reduction in the frequency and medical risk of parasuicidal behavior among subjects who received DBT compared with subjects who received treatment as usual. The number of days of inpatient psychiatric hospitalization was fewer for subjects who received DBT than for controls, resulting in greater cost-effectiveness for DBT in spite of DBT intensive treatment design (that includes both individual and group psychotherapy, as well as accessibility for telephone consultation between sessions, for a one year period of time). While DBT was not shown differentially effective in improving patients' depression, hopelessness, suicide ideation, or reasons for living, the reduced parasuicidal behavior intensity and frequency, together with fewer psychiatric hospitalizations (lower cost and greater ability to sustain patients in the least restrictive environment) is impressive.
***Research showed that DBT did nothing to eliminate depression or hopelessness, suicide ideation or reasons for living? I thought that was what it was DESIGNED to do? It did, however, decrease hospital stays..
Well, from my personal point of view, it made my depression and SI/SIB WORSE! And I've NEVER been hospitalized for any "mental illness" Ever!
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I've never been hospitalized for anything other than childbirth (knock on wood - may I say the same when I'm 90). DBT made me worse, too. I came very close to overdosing again after that last exposure. I was considering ending it all just to make the whole thing stop. I couldn't take it anymore. The bottom line is - it's all about denial. Even DBT admits that. They call it 'functional denial' or 'constructive denial' or something like that. What's really, really sad is that people would not NEED that anymore if they had someone to really listen to them who would not shame them or shove a bucket in their face. The whole thing is just so goddamn sad.
ReplyDeleteI realize your blogs were written a while ago but I hope you find this comment so that you can reply. I am developing DBT programs for my local community for Adult ADD, depression, anxiety, & related symptoms.
ReplyDeleteIt would be profoundly useful for me to learn what it was about DBT that made your symptoms worse. I would like to avoid creating something similar to my group members. Thanks, Dean.