Mechanisms of change in dialectical behaviour therapy for people with borderline personality disorder

2020/08/25 by Lars Mehlum · 1 voice
Psychology · #Personality Disorders and Psychopathology #Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications #Mental Health Research Topics

paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.08.017

openalex publication_date 2020/08/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31

Abstract

This paper reviews current knowledge on mechanisms of change targeted in dialectical behaviour therapy for people with borderline personality disorder. Improvements in emotion regulation capacity and the use of coping skills or mindfulness skills helping patients to downregulate emotional reactions and to cope with stressful situations seem to play important roles. In addition, strong therapeutic relationships, where therapists use high levels of validation, seem equally beneficial for treatment outcomes. When therapists actively install hope in their patients and foster the capacity of hopeful thinking in other ways, long-term outcomes seem to improve. A growing body of evidence shows us how neurobiological and epigenetic change in brain regions important to emotion regulation and behaviour control correspond with more favourable treatment outcomes.

Citations

• Mechanisms of change in dialectical behavior therapy: Theoretical and empirical observations
• Long term effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy versus enhanced usual care for adolescents with self‐harming and suicidal behavior
• The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations.

Discussions

• Neurological mechanisms - Decreased activation of amygdala after DBT - Assoc w emotion regulation improvements - Decreased activation in other areas of the limbic system - Increased volume of grey mat [bsky, 0 points, 1 comments]