Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for young people with self-harm behaviour

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Suicidal and self-injurious behaviour; Mental Health - Depression; Mental Health - Suicide; Injuries and Accidents - Other injuries and accidents

• Registration Number: ACTRN12619000232134
• Lead Sponsor: Emily Cooney

Brief Summary

This study looked at the feasibility of conducting a trial of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) for suicidal adolescents in New Zealand. We wanted to know whether patients and clinicians would accept random assignment rather than having a choice of treatment, how adolescents would cope with the research assessments, the impact of DBT, and how many participants would stay in treatment, and do the research assessments. Adolescents in DBT received more therapy and attended a higher proportion of scheduled sessions than those in usual care. All participants showed a reduction of self-injury and suicide attempts over time, but the slopes for adolescents in DBT were flatter than those in EUC, indicating that they took longer to recover. Conclusions: The slower drop in self harm for DBT differs from previous findings for both suicidal adolescents and adults receiving DBT. As this was a feasibility study with a small sample size, the finding may reflect a chance occurrence and should be interpreted with caution.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Completion: 2011-09-04
• Study Start: 2019-02-18
• Last Update Posted: 15 July 2019

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 29

Inclusion Criteria

Adolescents aged 13-19 years with a history of at least one suicide attempt or self-injury in the 3 months prior to the pretreatment assessment, and who are proficient in spoken English. Adolescents aged 19 years provided they are still living at home, can attend group accompanied by an adult who is an ongoing presence in their lives, and are attending some form of secondary education.

Exclusion Criteria

Psychotic disorder, intellectual disability, life threatening eating disorder requiring hospital admission for weight restoration

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified