Distress Tolerance Skills Training for Emotional Distress

(STRIDE Trial)

Overseen By Dakota Kliamovich, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Oregon Health and Science University

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

74 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Distress Tolerance Skills Training for Emotional Distress?

Research shows that Distress Tolerance Skills, a part of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, help individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder feel more stable and confident by reducing tension and aiding in coping with difficult situations. This suggests that similar skills training could be beneficial for managing emotional distress. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Distress Tolerance Skills Training safe for humans?

The research does not specifically address the safety of Distress Tolerance Skills Training, but it has been studied in various contexts, such as substance use disorders and PTSD, without reported safety concerns. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

How is Distress Tolerance Skills Training different from other treatments for emotional distress?

Distress Tolerance Skills Training is unique because it focuses on enhancing a person's ability to tolerate negative emotions and stress, which is a key factor in managing emotional distress. Unlike other treatments that may focus on symptom reduction, this approach aims to build resilience by teaching skills like mindfulness and reflection to improve distress tolerance. ^{1 7 10 11 12}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Research suggests that an individual's perceived ability to withstand distressing or upsetting emotions (i.e., distress tolerance; DT) is a common risk factor across several mental health conditions that commonly emerge during adolescence. This study aims to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and initial efficacy of a classroom-based DT skills training program for middle school students. This study will also explore associations between changes in DT and internalizing symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression).

Research Team

Bonnie Nagel, PhD

Principal Investigator

Oregon Health and Science University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for middle school students who may be experiencing emotional distress or have mental health disorders. The program aims to teach them skills to better handle upsetting emotions.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a student in grade 6, 7, or 8 at Valley Catholic Middle School.

Exclusion Criteria

N/A

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive classroom-based distress tolerance skills training

Academic year

Weekly sessions during class time

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in distress tolerance and internalizing symptoms

6 months

Assessments at 3-month and 6-month intervals

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Distress Tolerance Skills Training

Trial Overview The study is testing a classroom-based Distress Tolerance (DT) skills training program. It will assess how well the program works, if it's practical in a school setting, and its effect on symptoms like anxiety and depression.

Participant Groups

Group I: Distress Tolerance Skills Training Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Students will participate in a series of classroom-based lessons aimed at increasing distress tolerance.

Group II: Standard Curriculum (Control) Active Control 1 Intervention

Students will not participate in the distress tolerance skills training. They will receive only their standard curriculum during class time.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Oregon Health and Science University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,024

Recruited

7,420,000+

Valley Catholic Middle School

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

70+

Findings from Research

Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) reported that Distress Tolerance Skills (DTS) training, part of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), led to an immediate reduction in tension and helped them cope with challenging situations, enhancing their feelings of stability and self-confidence.

While participants experienced benefits from DTS training, they also faced challenges during the initial learning and application phases, indicating a need for improved support and strategies in clinical practice to optimize the training process.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How do patients with borderline personality disorder experience Distress Tolerance Skills in the context of dialectical behavioral therapy?-A qualitative study. Schaich, A., Braakmann, D., Rogg, M., et al.[2021]

References

1. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Initial RCT of a distress tolerance treatment for individuals with substance use disorders. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How do patients with borderline personality disorder experience Distress Tolerance Skills in the context of dialectical behavioral therapy?-A qualitative study. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Childhood trauma and distress tolerance in a trauma-exposed acute-care psychiatric inpatient sample. [2019]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The self-efficacy in distress tolerance scale (SE-DT): a psychometric evaluation. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Multi-method assessment of distress tolerance and smoking-related factors among adult daily smokers. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interrelating Behavioral Measures of Distress Tolerance with Self-Reported Experiential Avoidance. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Examination of the Relationship Between PTSD and Distress Tolerance in a Sample of Male Veterans With Comorbid Substance Use Disorders. [2019]

8. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of changes in distress tolerance on PTSD symptom severity post-treatment among veterans in residential trauma treatment. [2018]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Distress tolerance: prospective associations with cognitive-behavioral therapy outcomes in adults with posttraumatic stress and substance use disorders. [2023]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reduction of Distress Intolerance With Salutotherapeutic Interventions: Results From a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. [2022]

11. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness and rumination as predictors of persistence with a distress tolerance task. [2021]

12. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Profiles of distress intolerance in a substance-dependent sample. [2012]