A STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF COUPLE DIALECTICAL BEHAVIORAL THERAPY ON SYMPTOMS AND QUALITY OF MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS AND MENTAL HEALTH OF IRANIAN BORDERLINE PERSONALITY COUPLES: A CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of couple dialectical behavior therapy (CDBT) on symptoms and quality of marital relationships and mental health of Iranian borderline personality couples. Borderline personality disorder symptoms (BPDSI-IV), general mental health questioner (GHQ), perceived relationship quality components (PRQC) were assessed in 15 male patients and their partner who had participated in this program. Fifteen waiting list patients were participated as control group. Post-testing was conducted four months after the initial assessment (i.e. 1 month after discharge for the CDBT group). ANCOVA with pretest as covariate demonstrated that there was a significant difference between the groups in favor of the CDBT on 8 psychopathological variables and 3 subscale of GHQ and 5 subscale of PRQC. The results confirmed the efficacy of CDBT in redacting BPD symptoms, increasing mental health improvement and perceived relationship quality of patients.