Dialectical behavior therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive, multimodal, cognitive-behavioral treatment initially developed as a treatment for chronically suicidal adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and subsequently adapted to treat suicidal adolescents. DBT was the first evidence-based treatment for these populations. DBT has since been found to be effective in addressing a variety of problematic behaviors broadly associated with emotion dysregulation. A principle-based treatment, DBT has a philosophical foundation grounded in behavioral science, dialectics, and mindfulness Zen practice. Core components of DBT are described here, including the biosocial theory of BPD and other psychopathology, treatment principles derived from the three philosophical foundations, an organizing framework for stages of treatment that prioritizes treatment targets within each stage, and clearly defined treatment functions that are served by specific modes of treatment.