Citation

Boccalon S, Alesiani R, Giarolli L, Fossati A. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 2017; 205(3): 213-216.

Affiliation

*Department of Clinical Neurosciences, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan; and †Department of Humanities, LUMSA University, Rome, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/NMD.0000000000000640

PMID

28129304

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the observed changes on emotion dysregulation obtained through the Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) program. The sample is composed of 24 subjects with a personality disorder with borderline features. All participants filled out the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). There was a significant decrease in the DERS total score at the end of the treatment and at 6-month follow-up. Friedman test showed a significant decrease in suicide attempts and hospitalizations over time. The analysis of the DERS subscales showed that "goals" and "impulse" were the two dimensions on which the treatment acted and the changes were stable over time. STEPPS is associated with an improvement in emotion regulation and a reduction in the number of hospitalizations and suicide attempts. The treatment seems to act on the behavioral dimensions of emotion dysregulation like the ability to control impulsive behaviors and to achieve goals.

Language: en