57 research outputs found
Outcomes for 18 to 25-year-olds with borderline personality disorder in a dedicated young adult only DBT programme compared to a general adult DBT programme for all ages 18
Aim
Targeting young adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD) for treatment may carry significant social and clinical benefits. We aimed to evaluate a communityâbased Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) programme delivered exclusively to young adults with BPD.
Methods
We describe a naturally occurring nonâequivalent, quasiâexperimental comparison of outcomes for young adults (18â25âyears) with BPD following 1 year of treatment in either a young adult only DBT programme or a general adult DBT programme (18+ years). Twentyâfour young adults enrolled in a communityâbased young adult DBT programme open only to 18â to 25âyearâolds with BPD. Another 13 young adults, also 18â25âyears, enrolled in a general adult DBT programme open to all ages above 18âyears. Both treatment conditions offered all modes of standard DBT for 1 year. Participants completed a battery of selfâreport measures on mental health symptoms at baseline and again at treatment completion after 1 year. Discharge rates at 2 years postâtreatment completion were also recorded.
Results
Better outcomes were found on borderline symptom severity and general psychopathology among completers of young adult DBT, with a large effect size for treatment condition as well as greater clinically significant change. Discharge rates from mental health services 24âmonths later were also higher for completers of young adult DBT.
Conclusions
There may be advantages in delivering DBT to young adults in an ageâspecific programme, possibly due to group cohesion. Methodological limitations apply, such as small sample size and nonârandomization. Further controlled research is needed
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