Dialectical-behavioral therapy for borderline personality disorder

Abstract

Dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT) has been developed as a treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD), a disorder that afflicts approximately 10% of the outpatient population and up to 20% of inpatients. DBT conceptualizes BPD as a pervasive disorder of the emotion regulation system that arises from the transaction of a biologic predisposition to emotional vulnerability and emotional learning within an invalidating environment. As a result, individuals with BPD experience tremendous problems including interpersonal difficulties, self-injurious behaviors, and suicidal behaviors. DBT incorporates the principles of dialectical philosophy Zen, and behavior therapy to treat these problems. DBT utilizes several modes of therapy and teaches skills in several areas to help patients who experience a tremendous amount of suffering to build a life worth living.