Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

DBT-skills system for cognitively challenged individuals with self-harm: a Swedish pilot study

Rosendahl-Santillo, Alexandra ; Lantto, Reid LU orcid ; Nylander, Lena LU ; Thylander, Christina LU orcid ; Schultz, Pernilla ; Brown, Julie ; Wallinus, Märta LU and Westling, Sofie LU orcid (2023) In International Journal of Developmental Disabilities 69(4). p.533-545
Abstract
Background: Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment for self-harm and emotion regulation difficulties. A modified version, DBT-Skills System (DBT-SS), has been developed in the USA for individuals with cognitive difficulties. The present study is a pilot study, testing the DBT-SS in a Swedish context.
Methods: Six participants were treated with individual therapy and group skills training for 48 sessions each. A case series design was used to follow individual development over time. The primary outcome measure was reduction in challenging behaviors. Secondary outcomes were level of functioning in daily life, hospital admissions, and resilience and vulnerabilities in different risk domains. Data was analyzed... (More)
Background: Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment for self-harm and emotion regulation difficulties. A modified version, DBT-Skills System (DBT-SS), has been developed in the USA for individuals with cognitive difficulties. The present study is a pilot study, testing the DBT-SS in a Swedish context.
Methods: Six participants were treated with individual therapy and group skills training for 48 sessions each. A case series design was used to follow individual development over time. The primary outcome measure was reduction in challenging behaviors. Secondary outcomes were level of functioning in daily life, hospital admissions, and resilience and vulnerabilities in different risk domains. Data was analyzed using time-series diagrams. Effect sizes of changes were calculated using Cohen’s d.
Results: Challenging behaviors decreased over time and participants' global level of functioning increased. There was a reduction in number of hospital admissions over time. As for resilience and vulnerabilities, participants’ overall level of risk in various areas remained unchanged or decreased after treatment.
Conclusions: The results indicate that DBT-SS might be a promising treatment for cognitively challenged individuals with emotion regulation difficulties and challenging behaviors in a Swedish context. The study provides suggestions for a future randomized controlled trial.
Supplemental data for this article is available online at here. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
International Journal of Developmental Disabilities
volume
69
issue
4
pages
533 - 545
publisher
Maney Publishing
external identifiers
  • scopus:85114041935
  • pmid:37346252
ISSN
2047-3877
DOI
10.1080/20473869.2021.1965825
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ee54d136-e005-48c9-9fbb-623a9b74e24d
date added to LUP
2021-09-02 11:55:29
date last changed
2023-10-27 03:00:09
@article{ee54d136-e005-48c9-9fbb-623a9b74e24d,
  abstract     = {{Background: Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment for self-harm and emotion regulation difficulties. A modified version, DBT-Skills System (DBT-SS), has been developed in the USA for individuals with cognitive difficulties. The present study is a pilot study, testing the DBT-SS in a Swedish context.<br/>Methods: Six participants were treated with individual therapy and group skills training for 48 sessions each. A case series design was used to follow individual development over time. The primary outcome measure was reduction in challenging behaviors. Secondary outcomes were level of functioning in daily life, hospital admissions, and resilience and vulnerabilities in different risk domains. Data was analyzed using time-series diagrams. Effect sizes of changes were calculated using Cohen’s d.<br/>Results: Challenging behaviors decreased over time and participants' global level of functioning increased. There was a reduction in number of hospital admissions over time. As for resilience and vulnerabilities, participants’ overall level of risk in various areas remained unchanged or decreased after treatment.<br/>Conclusions: The results indicate that DBT-SS might be a promising treatment for cognitively challenged individuals with emotion regulation difficulties and challenging behaviors in a Swedish context. The study provides suggestions for a future randomized controlled trial.<br/>Supplemental data for this article is available online at here.}},
  author       = {{Rosendahl-Santillo, Alexandra and Lantto, Reid and Nylander, Lena and Thylander, Christina and Schultz, Pernilla and Brown, Julie and Wallinus, Märta and Westling, Sofie}},
  issn         = {{2047-3877}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{533--545}},
  publisher    = {{Maney Publishing}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Developmental Disabilities}},
  title        = {{DBT-skills system for cognitively challenged individuals with self-harm: a Swedish pilot study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2021.1965825}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/20473869.2021.1965825}},
  volume       = {{69}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}