The Efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Abstract
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has become one of the leading treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), focusing on enhancing emotion regulation skills, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and mindfulness. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluates the efficacy of DBT in reducing BPD symptoms and improving overall functioning in individuals with BPD. Through an extensive literature review, the meta-analysis synthesizes effect sizes from RCTs assessing the effectiveness of DBT compared to control conditions (e.g., treatment as usual, supportive therapy, active control) in targeting BPD symptoms, including impulsivity, affective instability, identity disturbance, and interpersonal difficulties. Additionally, it examines potential moderators of treatment outcomes, such as treatment duration, therapist experience, treatment format (individual vs. group), and participant characteristics (e.g., age, comorbidities), to better understand the factors influencing the effectiveness of DBT for BPD.
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References
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