What is Dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents (DBT)?

An overview of dialectical behavior therapy adapted for adolescents to treat depression, emotional instability, and risky behaviors.

Dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents and young adults (DBT) is a clinical program within the Young Adult and Family Center that targets high risk, multi-problem adolescents. We specialize in identifying and treating depression and risky behavior in adolescents, including self-injury, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, substance use, binging and purging, risky sexual behavior, physical fighting, and other forms of risk-taking. DBT has been adapted by Alec Miller and Jill Rathus from Marsha Linehan’s initial conceptualization of DBT, which was developed for adults diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Our adaptation follows the work of Miller and Rathus, who originally modified DBT for use with teens. Our program targets five areas: Confusion about self Impulsivity Emotional instability Interpersonal problems Parent-teen problems The treatment has been shown to be effective in treating self-harming adolescents with depression who demonstrate some traits of borderline personality disorder that are beyond that expected of typical adolescent development. Depression in adolescence is characterized by depressed or irritable mood, changes in appetite and sleep, withdrawal from and loss of interest in usual activities and friends, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, agitation and/or fatigue, difficulty concentrating, difficulty making decisions, and suicidal ideation. Some traits of borderline personality disorder that may be of concern to teens and parents include: unstable sense of self, unstable interpersonal relationships, inappropriate or uncontrollable anger or other emotions, serious mood swings, recurrent self-harm or and/or suicide attempts, chronic feelings of emptiness, and impulsivity that puts the teen at risk. Teens and young adults referred to the DBT Program typically have many or all of the problems listed above, which can lead to difficulties fulfilling their obligations in school and at home. This perpetuates their negative ideas about themselves.