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Behavioral Intervention

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder

N/A
Waitlist Available
Research Sponsored by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Age 13-17 years or 18-20 if still living at home with parent
Be younger than 65 years old
Must not have
Non-English speaking
IQ < 70
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up six months
Awards & highlights

Summary

This trial uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help adolescents aged 13-20 with borderline personality disorder symptoms. The therapy teaches them skills to manage emotions, cope with stress, and improve relationships. DBT has been adapted and studied for adolescents with various psychiatric disorders, including borderline personality disorder, and has shown promise in reducing problematic behaviors.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adolescents aged 13-20 with borderline personality disorder, showing impulsive behavior or self-harm. They must live close to the clinic and have a caregiver join in treatment. Participants can't be in other talk therapies, must understand English, have an IQ above 70, and not require services for conditions like schizophrenia.
What is being tested?
The study tests Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT-A) specifically designed for teenagers at Rutgers University's DBT Clinic. It involves six months of therapy with assessments throughout the process to track progress and effectiveness.
What are the potential side effects?
As DBT-A is a form of psychological therapy rather than medication, it doesn't have traditional side effects but may bring up emotional discomfort as participants work through personal issues.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I am between 13-17 years old, or 18-20 and living with my parents.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I do not speak English.
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My IQ is below 70.
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I need mental health services not offered here, like for schizophrenia or severe anorexia, or I'm already getting the best treatment elsewhere.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~six months
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and six months for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Inventory (SITBI)
Work and Social Adjustment Scale
Secondary study objectives
Borderline Symptom List (BSL-23)
Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)
Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)

Trial Design

1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: DBT-AExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The standard treatment to be delivered to all participants is DBT-A, which is a treatment model adapted from DBT. DBT-A is an adaptation for adolescents with emotion dysregulation and BPD features (Miller, Rathus, \& Linehan, 2007; Rathus \& Miller, 2015). DBT-A involves weekly individual therapy with the adolescent, weekly multifamily skills group in which adolescents and family members participate, as needed phone coaching, and weekly consultation team for the therapists.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
DBT-A
2015
N/A
~120

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.
Mechanism Of Action
Side Effect Profile
Prior Approvals
Other Research
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices to help individuals regulate emotions, improve interpersonal relationships, and reduce self-destructive behaviors. This structured approach includes individual therapy, group skills training, and therapist availability between sessions for coaching. This is crucial for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) patients as it addresses core symptoms like emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and unstable relationships, providing practical skills to manage their condition and improve their quality of life.
A randomised trial of dialectical behaviour therapy and the conversational model for the treatment of borderline personality disorder with recent suicidal and/or non-suicidal self-injury: An effectiveness study in an Australian public mental health service.

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyLead Sponsor
442 Previous Clinical Trials
65,386 Total Patients Enrolled
1 Trials studying Borderline Personality Disorder
145 Patients Enrolled for Borderline Personality Disorder

Media Library

DBT-A (Behavioral Intervention) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT03861858 — N/A
Borderline Personality Disorder Research Study Groups: DBT-A
Borderline Personality Disorder Clinical Trial 2023: DBT-A Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT03861858 — N/A
DBT-A (Behavioral Intervention) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT03861858 — N/A
~8 spots leftby Oct 2025