Retrospective Study of the Acceptability and Effectiveness of a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Group in Patients Suffering From Emotional Dysregulation (Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder and Adult ADHD)

Emotional dysregulation (ED) is a common syndrome in psychiatric disorders. It is characterized by intense emotions, easily triggered, and with significant psychological impact: explosions of anger, irritability, impulsivity, emotional lability, etc. It is systematic in borderline personality disorder, and observed in a majority of patients with bipolar disorder. (even in the interictal period), adult ADHD, or addictions. ED is a cause of psychological distress, suicidal behavior or non-suicidal self-injury, and impaired quality of life. Pharmacological treatments only very partially improve these symptoms. Psychotherapies aimed at reducing ED are poorly developed in France. Dialectical behavioral therapy is a therapy that has shown its effectiveness in ED of BPD.

This is why the psychiatry and addiction center of the University Hospitals of Strasbourg has set up groups using this psychotherapeutic approach based on this technique for almost 3 years. This technique being very little practiced in France, and even less studied, we want to see if it is adapted to a French population not accustomed to this type of practice.