Essay on Dialectical Behavior Therapy

There are a few definitions of Dialectical Behavior Therapy that I would like to start this paper with.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a cognitive-behavioral treatment for complex, difficult-to-treat mental disorders. (Linehan, 1993). Dialectical Behavior Therapy is defined also as an integrative psychotherapeutic approach that unites behavioral science and acceptance and mindfulness concepts.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was originally developed by a Marsha M. Linehan, who is a well-known Professor of Psychology, Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy was designed to treat so called Borderline personality disorder (BPD). I’d like to point out that this disorder actually “makes up about 10% of clients in outpatient mental health clinics.” (Smith et al, 2004)
Borderline personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability in affect-regulation, impulse control, interpersonal relationships, and self-image, as well as frantic attempts to prevent abandonment, self-mutilating or suicidal behavior, chronic feelings of boredom or emptiness, and brief paranoid ideas or severe dissociative symptoms related to stress (American Psychiatric Association, 2000)

What are the major behavioral characteristics of the patients with BPD? These patients can be very “demanding, they tend to display suicidal ideation, inflict self-harm, and have frequent crises.” (Smith and Peck, 2004)

Of course, Dialectical Behavior Therapy is not the only one approach that was used for BPD curing. Psychodynamic and interpersonal therapies were used to treat patients with BPD. But this new systematic approach called Dialectical Behavior Therapy that was an integration of many other methods has achieved a real success. The first patients this therapy was used for suffered from parasuicidal behaviors and for drug dependence. (Smith and Peck, 2004)

Elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

The first element of this theory is the dialectical worldview. It has four major principles, such as interrelatedness and wholeness, polarity, and continuous change(Linehan, 1993)

The second element is Cognitive behavioral therapy, which means usage of cognitive behavioral techniques during the treatment. (Linehan,1993)

One of the major requirements to the patients during the Dialectical Behavior Therapy is their weekly participation and completion of the homework assignments.

Advantages and difficulties of Dialectical Behavior Therapy applying

Among the advantages of this approach we can name its uniqueness in integrating cognitive behavioral theory and adialectical worldview (Smith and Peck, 2004); its individualistic nature; mandatory weekly meetings with patients, etc.

The most serious difficulty of Dialectical Behavior Therapy applying is the length of treatment (in accordance to modern standards). The treatment may take minimum one year and it may last much longer (Linehan, 1993)

Conclusion

In order to make a conclusion, I would like to draw your attention that although Dialectical Behavior Therapy is considered to be modern and reliable approach in treating patients with Borderline personality disorder, there is still a need in providing independent wide studies on the DBT efficiency.

While the existing research consistently points to the effectiveness of DBT in treating borderline personality disorder, little qualitative research has been conducted to ascertain the reasons for its success, especially from the perspective of those undergoing the treatment. (Martens, 2005)