Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)

A type of cognitive behavioral therapy, DBT follows a model that sees the causes of dysfunctional behavior as impaired or maladaptive emotional regulation.^1,2 DBT focuses on reducing behaviors that are detrimental to the patient’s health and quality of life and increasing behavioral skills.^1-3 The therapeutic plan is divided into stages, including goal setting, achieving behavioral stability, and emotionally processing the past.⁴ DBT typically lasts for months to years.²

Description:	A type of cognitive behavioral therapy, DBT follows a model that sees the causes of dysfunctional behavior as impaired or maladaptive emotional regulation.^1,2 DBT focuses on reducing behaviors that are detrimental to the patient’s health and quality of life and increasing behavioral skills.^1-3 The therapeutic plan is divided into stages, including goal setting, achieving behavioral stability, and emotionally processing the past.⁴ DBT typically lasts for months to years.²
Potentially effective for the following mental health concerns:	Bipolar disorder, Suicide risk
Potentially effective in the following age groups:	Adolescent, Adult
Treatment setting options:	Individual, Group, Family
Treatment format options:	In-person, Telephone
Typical treatment duration:	10-20 sessions, Indefinite
Potential limitations:	To correctly practice DBT, therapists should have a consultation team with which they communicate regularly²

Footnotes:

Supporting references for the filters are as follows:
Potentially effective for the following mental health concerns: Bipolar disorder^5,6, Suicide risk³; Potentially effective in the following age groups: Adolescent^4,7, Adult³; Treatment setting options: Individual^2,4, Group^2,4, Family⁴; Treatment format options: In-person⁴, Telephone⁴; Typical treatment duration: 10-20 sessions^5,6, Indefinite²

References:

Peprah, K & Argaez, C. CADTH Rapid Response Reports. 2017.
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. ABCT Fact Sheets: Dialectical Behavior Therapy. 2020. http://www.abct.org/Information/?m=mInformation&fa=fs_DIALECTICAL. Accessed March 2, 2020.
Panos, PT et al. Res Soc Work Pract. 2014;24(2):213-223.
Swales, M. Int J Behavioral Consultation and Therapy. 2009;5(2):164-177.
Zargar, F et al. Adv Biomed Res. 2019;8:59.
Eisner, L et al. Behav Ther. 2017;48(4):557-566.
Goldstein, TR et al. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2015;25(2):140-149.