TY - JOUR
T1 - Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Suicidal Self-Harming Youth
T2 - Emotion Regulation, Mechanisms, and Mediators
AU - Asarnow, Joan Rosenbaum
AU - Berk, Michele S.
AU - Bedics, Jamie
AU - Adrian, Molly
AU - Gallop, Robert
AU - Cohen, Judith
AU - Korslund, Kathryn
AU - Hughes, Jennifer
AU - Avina, Claudia
AU - Linehan, Marsha M.
AU - McCauley, Elizabeth
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
PY - 2021/9
Y1 - 2021/9
N2 - Objective: This study evaluated mechanisms, mediation, and secondary/exploratory outcomes in our randomized controlled trial evaluating dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) compared to individual and group supportive therapy (IGST). We expand on previously reported results indicating a DBT advantage at posttreatment on planned suicide/self-harm outcomes, and greater self-harm remission (absence of self-harm, post hoc exploratory outcome) during active-treatment and follow-up periods. Method: This was a multi-site randomized trial of 173 adolescents with prior suicide attempts, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. Randomization was to 6 months of DBT or IGST, with outcomes monitored through 12 months. Youth emotion regulation was the primary mechanistic outcome. Results: Compared to IGST, greater improvements in youth emotion regulation were found in DBT through the treatment-period [t(498) = 2.36, p = .019] and 12-month study period (t(498) = 2.93, p = .004). Their parents reported using more DBT skills: posttreatment t(497) = 4.12, p < .001); 12-month follow-up t(497) = 3.71, p < .001). Mediation analyses predicted to self-harm remission during the 6- to 12-month follow-up, the prespecified outcome and only suicidality/self-harm variable with a significant DBT effect at follow-up (DBT 49.3%; IGST 29.7%, p = .013). Improvements in youth emotion regulation during treatment mediated the association between DBT and self-harm remission during follow-up (months 6−12, estimate 1.71, CI 1.01−2.87, p = .045). Youths in DBT reported lower substance misuse, externalizing behavior, and total problems at posttreatment/6 months, and externalizing behavior throughout follow-up/12 months. Conclusion: Results support the significance of emotion regulation as a treatment target for reducing self-harm, and indicate a DBT advantage on substance misuse, externalizing behavior, and self-harm-remission, with 49.3% of youths in DBT achieving self-harm remission during follow-up. Clinical trial registration information: Collaborative Adolescent Research on Emotions and Suicide; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/;
AB - Objective: This study evaluated mechanisms, mediation, and secondary/exploratory outcomes in our randomized controlled trial evaluating dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) compared to individual and group supportive therapy (IGST). We expand on previously reported results indicating a DBT advantage at posttreatment on planned suicide/self-harm outcomes, and greater self-harm remission (absence of self-harm, post hoc exploratory outcome) during active-treatment and follow-up periods. Method: This was a multi-site randomized trial of 173 adolescents with prior suicide attempts, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. Randomization was to 6 months of DBT or IGST, with outcomes monitored through 12 months. Youth emotion regulation was the primary mechanistic outcome. Results: Compared to IGST, greater improvements in youth emotion regulation were found in DBT through the treatment-period [t(498) = 2.36, p = .019] and 12-month study period (t(498) = 2.93, p = .004). Their parents reported using more DBT skills: posttreatment t(497) = 4.12, p < .001); 12-month follow-up t(497) = 3.71, p < .001). Mediation analyses predicted to self-harm remission during the 6- to 12-month follow-up, the prespecified outcome and only suicidality/self-harm variable with a significant DBT effect at follow-up (DBT 49.3%; IGST 29.7%, p = .013). Improvements in youth emotion regulation during treatment mediated the association between DBT and self-harm remission during follow-up (months 6−12, estimate 1.71, CI 1.01−2.87, p = .045). Youths in DBT reported lower substance misuse, externalizing behavior, and total problems at posttreatment/6 months, and externalizing behavior throughout follow-up/12 months. Conclusion: Results support the significance of emotion regulation as a treatment target for reducing self-harm, and indicate a DBT advantage on substance misuse, externalizing behavior, and self-harm-remission, with 49.3% of youths in DBT achieving self-harm remission during follow-up. Clinical trial registration information: Collaborative Adolescent Research on Emotions and Suicide; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/;
KW - dialectical behavior therapy
KW - nonsuicidal self-injury
KW - self-harm
KW - suicide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85104011957&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85104011957&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jaac.2021.01.016
DO - 10.1016/j.jaac.2021.01.016
M3 - Article
C2 - 33539915
AN - SCOPUS:85104011957
SN - 0890-8567
VL - 60
SP - 1105-1115.e4
JO - Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
JF - Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
IS - 9
ER -