ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on a few diagnoses that have some existing research with dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). These diagnoses include bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Radical acceptance may also be a helpful skill to tailor specifically for adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD). In alignment with the manic and depressed states of mind, the mindfulness of current emotions skill can be adapted specifically for adolescents who struggle with BD. Adolescents are often resistant to psychotropic medication to manage BD, due to the side effects that often come along with mood stabilizers. The Youth Outcome Questionnaire (Y-OQ) 2.10 and SR 2.0 are both flexible instruments that can be used together—the Y-OQ 2.10 is completed by the parent, and the Y-OQ SR is completed by the adolescent. The Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory are both popular instruments because they are short, fairly inexpensive, easy to administer, and very straightforward.
