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Dialectical behaviour therapy for special populations: treatment with adolescents and their caregivers
- Authors:
- CHARLTON Margaret, DYKSTRA Eric J.
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 5(5), 2011, pp.6-14.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The authors begin by discussing the adaptations that need to be made to dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) when working with populations who have both intellectual disabilities and mental illnesses. They go on to report the preliminary findings of a pilot study conducted with adolescent clients in a day treatment program in Colorado. This was designed to determine the effectiveness of dialectical behaviour therapy for special populations (DBT-SP). The study, which involved 19 students, used all three components of DBT, in addition to the normal milieu management techniques. Clients received DBT-SP focused individual therapy, skills training groups using the DBT-SP skills training manual, and the whole treatment team staff participated in a DBT-SP supervision/consultation group. Data were collected through observations of client behaviour by staff, client outcome when leaving the program, and daily diary card information. The authors note that, as this was a pilot study, there are many limitations to the data. However they conclude that thus far, the data are suggestive, but not conclusive, regarding the effectiveness of DBT-SP.