TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2002//
TI  - Dialectical behavior therapy adapted for suicidal adolescents
JO  - Suicide and life-threatening behavior
A1  - Miller, Alison L.
A1  - Rathus, J. H.
SP  - 146
EP  - 157
VL  - 32
IS  - 2
N2  - We report a quasi-experimental investigation of an adaptation of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with a group of suicidal adolescents with borderline personality features. The DBT group (n = 29) received 12 weeks of twice weekly therapy consisting of individual therapy and a multifamily skills training group. The treatment as usual (TAU) group (n = 82) received 12 weeks of twice weekly supportive-psychodynamic individual therapy plus weekly family therapy. Despite more severe pre-treatment symptomatology in the DBT group, at post-treatment this group had significantly fewer psychiatric hospitalizations during treatment, and a significantly higher rate of treatment completion than the TAU group. There were no significant differences in the number of suicide attempts made during treatment. Examining pre-post change within the DBT group, there were significant reductions in suicidal ideation, general psychiatric symptoms, and symptoms of borderline personality. DBT appears to be a promising treatment for suicidal adolescents with borderline personality characteristics.
LA  - 
SN  - 0363-0234
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -