ABSTRACT
Linehan developed DBT to treat adult women with a diagnosis of BPD and a recent history of parasuicidal behaviour. The initial randomized trial compared one year of DBT to treatment-as-usual (TAU) in the community (Linehan et al., 1991; Linehan et al., 1994). After one year, recipients of DBT had significantly fewer parasuicidal acts, less medically severe parasuicides, fewer psychiatric inpatient days, lower anger, higher social and global functioning, and higher treatment-retention rates (DBT = 83% versus TAU = 42%). Although all participants showed improvements in depression and suicidal ideation, the changes in the two groups on these variables were equivalent. At one-year follow-up, treatment gains were generally maintained, if less marked (Linehan et al., 1995).
