Effects of an Adapted Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program in Singapore
Conference Contribution ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Background: An adapted Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program has been delivered at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Singapore since December 2020. The current study investigates the program’s effects on clinical concerns and skills use among psychiatric outpatients. Method: Participants (N = 40, 32 females, 8 males; Mage = 26, SDage = 5.52) with diagnoses of a mood- or anxiety-related disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or borderline personality disorder (including traits) enrolled into the program, which comprises 12 online weekly group skills training sessions covering selected skills from the four modules, fortnightly consultation team meetings, rostered team members to provide phone coaching for patients undergoing skills training, and individual therapy (DBT- or non-DBT-based). The Borderline Symptoms List-95, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales–21, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory and DBT Ways of Coping Checklist were administered at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and three-month follow-up. Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) on completers to-date (n = 24) found significant increases in the levels of mindfulness (ηp2 = .25) and DBT skills use (ηp2 = .36), and significant declines in difficulties in emotion regulation (ηp2 = .62), borderline symptoms (ηp2 = .28), depressive symptoms (ηp2 = .17), anxiety symptoms (ηp2 = .33) and stress levels (ηp2 = .28), from pre-treatment to post-treatment. These were maintained at 3-month follow-up. An increasing trend in self-esteem was observed (p = .05, ηp2 = .14). Final data will be presented at the conference. Discussion: These results suggest the feasibility of DBT adaptations in resource-limited clinical settings. Limitations including the lack of a control group, the impact of attrition from the program and the online delivery of the skills training group will be discussed. These findings will also be discussed in the context of local implementation efforts and the implications for further development of DBT in the country.
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ISSPD 2025: 18th Congress of the International Society for the Study of Personality Disorder
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1
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Sydney, NSW, Australia
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International Society for the Study of Personality Disorder
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Sydney, NSW, Australia
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