Preventing Emotional Dysregulation: Acceptability and Preliminary Effectiveness of a DBT Skills Training Program for Adolescents in the Spanish School System

Emotional dysregulation is a key factor in the development and maintenance of multiple disabling mental disorders through a person’s lifespan. Therefore, there is an urgent need to prevent emotional dysregulation as early as possible. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of an adapted Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training program for Emotional Problem Solving in Adolescents (DBT STEPS-A) during secondary school. The sample included 93 adolescents (mean age = 12.78; SD = 0.54; and 53% female) studying in their 2nd year of secondary school in a public center in Catalonia (Spain). Measures of acceptability, difficulties of emotional regulation, mental health problems, and life satisfaction were completed before and after participation in the DBT STEPS-A program during one academic year. The majority of students rated the program as useful (64%) and enjoyed the classes (62%) and 48% of them reported practicing the newly learned skills. Statistically significant improvements were revealed in some emotional regulation-related variables, namely the number of peer problems (p = 0.003; d = 0.52) and prosocial behaviors (p < 0.001; d = −0.82). Although non-significant, the scores in the remaining outcomes indicated a general positive trend in emotional dysregulation, mental health, and life satisfaction. The adapted DBT STEPS-A was very well-accepted and helped overcome some emotional regulation difficulties in Spanish adolescents

Efectividad y aceptabilidad del entrenamiento en habilidades de la terapia dialéctica comportamental para familiares de personas con trastorno de personalidad límite

 Abstract: Effectivity and acceptability of dialectical behavioral therapy skills training for family members of people with borderline personality disorder. Social and family environment is fundamental in the development and maintenance of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Despite family members of people with BPD have more risk of suffering from psychological problems, there are not empirically-supported interventions for this population. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been adapted for families of people with BPD with encouraging results. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of a 25-session intervention based on DBT in a sample of 7 family members of people with BPD and in a Spanish context. Pre-post treatment changes in the variables: emotional burden, depression, anxiety, difficulties in emotion regulation, and mindfulness skills, were measured. Preliminary results showed significant improvements in anxiety, emotion regulation and mindfulness and good implementation of the intervention. This study may benefit the implementation of family interventions for family members of people with BPD.Resumen: El ambiente social y familiar es fundamental en el desarrollo y mantenimiento del Trastorno Límite de la Personalidad (TLP). A pesar de que los familiares de personas con TLP tienen más riesgo de padecer problemas psicológicos, no existen intervenciones empíricamente validadas para esta población. La Terapia Dialéctica Comportamental (Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT) se ha adaptado para familiares de personas con TLP con resultados alentadores. El objetivo principal del estudio fue evaluar la efectividad y la aceptabilidad de una intervención de 25 sesiones basada en DBT en una muestra de 7 familiares de personas con TLP y en un contexto español. Se midieron los cambios pre-post tratamiento en las variables agotamiento emocional, depresión, ansiedad, desregulación emocional y atención plena. Los resultados mostraron mejoras significativas en ansiedad, regulación emocional y atención plena y una buena aceptación de la intervención. Este estudio podría favorecer la implantación de intervenciones para familiares de personas con TLP.