Effectiveness of dialectic-behavioral skills training based on Soler model alone and along with family education in reduction of borderline personality disorder symptoms with three months follow up

Abstract

High prevalence of borderline personality disorder, high comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders, impulsive reactions necessitate psychological interventions on this group of patients.Objective: this study aimed to indicate the effect of dialectical behavior therapy individually and along with family therapy on borderline personality symptoms.Materials and methods. Eight patients were selected based on diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5), borderline personality disorder severity Index (BPDSI) and semi-structural interview (SCID-II). They divided into two groups: individual intervention and individual intervention with family education. All received Soler-based dialectical behavioral skills training (3-months) in 13 sessions of 120 minutes. In four stages, beginning of sessions, the median of treatment, end of the treatment, and three months after treatment, BPDSI questionnaire were filled and family of the second group completed McMaster questionnaire.Results. The findings of Friedman test show the effectiveness of dialectic-behavioral skills training based on Soler model as a short-term model alone and along with family education in reducing the symptoms of borderline personality disorder. Wilcoxon test indicate the effectiveness of this method in reducing the symptoms in post-test. Three months follow-up indicates the stability of the results with a 95% confidence level. U Mann-Whitney indicates no significant difference between two groups.Conclusion. Dialectical-behavior skills training based on the Soler model is effective in reducing the symptoms of borderline personality disorder and improving family function. It is recommended as a short term method to control the symptoms of borderline personality disorder and improvement the performance and communication among family members.

Keywords

• borderline personality disorder (bpd)
• complementary treatment
• dialectical-behavior skills training based on soler model (dbt-st)
• family therapy
• short term intervention