DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOUR THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF SELF-INJURIOUS AND SUICIDAL ADOLESCENT FEMALES

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based upon material published in the Psychiatry Journal and is available as an open access article through the creative commons license. ABSTRACT Background: The literature suggests a link between childhood trauma and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, including nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidality. We assessed the impact of a pilot dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) programme on reducing trauma-related symptoms and improving emotional regulation, suicidality, and NSSI in adolescents. Methods: Six adolescents attending a community mental health service received 26 weeks of DBT, together with a parent. Independent assessors collected measures on each participant at baseline, post-treatment, and three-month follow-up. We implemented further improvements over past research with the use of adolescent-specific outcome measures as well as independent assessment of treatment integrity, noted as problematic in previous studies, using videotapes. Results: Firstly, adolescents reported a decrease in trauma-based symptoms, suicidality, and NSSI following participation in the DBT programme that was maintained at the three month followup. Secondly, adolescents also reported improved emotion regulation immediately following treatment, and this was maintained, albeit more moderately, three months later. Given the burgeoning demand on mental health services, it is notable that five of the six adolescents were discharged from the service following the DBT intervention. Conclusions: The results of this pilot programme suggest that DBT has the potential to improve the symptoms of this at-risk population. This course on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors, who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for beginning, intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their understanding of the treatment of self-injurious and suicidal behaviors in adolescent females. The course material includes interventions and treatments. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require clinical continuing education courses for license renewal. The course is based on a journal article which includes research. A major benefit of reading research based articles for continuing education is they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field. Authors: Geddes, Dziurawiec and Lee Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding the effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for the treatment of self-injurious and suicidal adolescent females. Specifically, a professional will: ¿ Describe Dialectical Behavior Therapy interventions. ¿ Identify the effectiveness of DBT treatment for suicidal ideations in adolescent girls. ¿ Recognize the effectiveness of long term benefits of DBT for emotional regulation in girls. Come visit us on the web at www.ce-classes.com