Dialectical Behavior Therapy Facts

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (others call it Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) is a treatment pioneered by Marsha Linehan, PhD, in 1991. It focuses on women who were found out to have the so-called borderline personality disorder. This is a type of emotional disorder that causes a patient to be emotionally unstable thus resulting to stress and some other problems.

Linehan started to introduce DBT through publishing results of a study to achieve decrease in the following behaviors: those that are self-injuring; those that interfere with the treatment process; and those that affect a patient's quality of life. Alongside this thing, here are other interesting facts about the therapy:

Fact # 1 – DBT is divided into two parts.

The first part is called the once a week psychotherapy sessions. This involves assessment of a patient's problematic behavior for the past week. From here, the behavior is carefully assessed by using the chain of events that took place before the problematic behavior came up. In like manner, the therapist will assess what kept the patient from looking for solutions to that behavioral problem.

The second part, on the other hand, involves weekly sessions that will last for 2.5 hours. This one covers emotion regulation, mindfulness skills, distress tolerance skills, reality acceptance skills and interpersonal effectiveness. Individual therapists, instead of group therapists take charge of the process.

Fact # 2 – This behavioral therapy focuses on mindfulness.

Linehan describes three types of mind state namely reasonable mind, wise mind and emotional mind. She believed that mindfulness is an essential part of DBT in that it can be used in order for patients to focus more on the "wise mind" rather than the other two types of mind state.
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Fact # 3 – This behavioral therapy has a broader therapeutic goal.

Apart from focusing on mindfulness resulting to a wise mind, there is such a thing as a "life worth living" as a broader goal behind DBT. This is considered broader in the sense that the approach looks far beyond symptom management, palliative care and reduction in behavioral problems.

Fact # 4 – The DBT can also be used as an effective tool in substance abuse treatment.

Recent articles have discussed about this matter. In fact, according to the article "Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Substance Abusers" authored by Linda A. Dimeff, PhD of the Behavioral Tech Research, Inc and Marsha Linehan, many patients undergoing borderline personality disorders are proven to be substance abusers. In view of this, the concept DBT for Substance Abusers was also developed.

DBT for Substance Abusers revolves around modalities and concepts that promote abstinence from substance use. In turn, this can reduce the lengthy impact of patient relapses. Among a list of modalities used in such a case are dialectical abstinence, off-site counseling and clear mind.

Fact # 5 – The new concept of this behavioral therapy revolves around a 12-step process.

In line with this new concept in this behavioral therapy, addiction treatment centers have begun the implementation of DBT programs. These centers make use of a 12-step process that focuses on the patient's recovery. One such center that made use of this program is the University of Colorado Hospital's CeDAR or Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation. And in 2007, CeDAR made a commitment to provide these services both to primary and extended care patients.

Fact # 6 – This behavioral therapy involves five functions.

The first is called the improvement of the patient's motivation to change while the second function revolves around the enhancement of patient's capabilities. Additionally, it also focuses on generalizing new behaviors for the patient and structuring his environment. Last but not the least – the therapist himself should also be given the chance to become motivated after administering such a therapy to patients.

Fact # 7 – The behavior therapy also has its own set of targets for substance abusers.

DBT specifically focuses on several behavioral targets for substance abusers by focusing on the following:

1. Decreasing the use of illicit drugs and even medically-prescribed substances that have been misused by patients;

2. Controlling or stopping withdrawal and abstinence discomforts

3. Reducing or totally diminishing the urge to abuse these substances;

4. Reducing behaviors that can encourage substance abuse; and

5. Increasing community involvement in reinforcing healthy behaviors.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy has gone a long way from an approach that is used to cure borderline personality disorders in women to becoming a tool that deals with substance abuse behavioral problems. Its effectiveness can be seen in the fact that it does not stop even when relapses occur in patients. Meaning, therapists are encouraged to look more into what causes the relapse and deal with such accordingly