Study of Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Emotional Processing and Self-Harm in Adults with Emotional Instability

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating the emotional processing changes related to the treatment of non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal thoughts using Dialectical Behavior Therapy DBT. This study explores how DBT affects emotion regulation, intensity and frequency of self-harm and suicidal ideation, and includes measurements of anxiety, depression, and impulsivity as common related conditions. A matched control group of healthy individuals is included for comparison. Participants receiving DBT will undergo a standard outpatient program focused on improving emotion regulation skills, which is a manualized therapy addressing maladaptive behaviors like self-injury and suicidal thoughts. The study uses a naturalistic pre-post design with assessments at baseline, week 16, week 32, and upon completion of the approximately one-year DBT program. Healthy controls complete baseline testing only. Throughout the study, participants will complete self-report questionnaires on emotion regulation, mindfulness, self-compassion, anxiety, depression, and impulsivity, alongside psychophysiological testing including heart rate variability to measure emotional regulation capacity. The primary outcomes assessed include changes in suicidal thoughts, self-injury frequency, impulse intensity, and heart rate variability. Data will be analyzed to understand how emotion regulation improves with DBT and how these changes relate to clinical improvements over time.

Emotional Dysregulation in Para-suicidal Behavior