A Pilot Open Trial and Mixed Methods Evaluation of Affirmative Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Skills Training for Malaysian LGBT Adults

IF 1.3 Q3 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Counselling & Psychotherapy Research Pub Date : 2025-01-29 DOI:10.1002/capr.12899

Shian-Ling Keng, Andrian Liem, Rachel Sing-Kiat Ting, Ker Rou Chung, Yuhang Toh, Shaleen Chrisanne, Man Kuan Wong, T. H. Stanley Seah

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Abstract

Objectives

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals are at greater risk of mental health problems relative to cisgender heterosexual people. While various evidence-based interventions exist to address the mental health needs of LGBT individuals, there is an urgent need to adapt these interventions to address stressors unique to the LGBT individual in the Global South, where LGBT identity remains highly stigmatised. This study developed and evaluated a six-session affirmative dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) skills group to address depressive symptoms in a sample of Malaysian LGBT adults.

Methods

Seventeen LGBT adults (M_age = 26.9 years) with mild-to-severe levels of depressive symptoms were recruited from the community. Participants attended a DBT skills group for 6 weeks (2.5-h/session). They completed self-report measures on psychological symptoms, well-being and minority stress at pre- and post-intervention and a focus group discussion regarding their experience with the DBT skills group.

Results

Significant decreases in depressive symptoms, stress, borderline personality disorder symptoms, emotion dysregulation and distress due to heterosexist experiences were observed from pre- to post-intervention. There were also significant increases in self-compassion and subjective well-being. The number of DBT skills sessions attended was significantly associated with reductions in emotion dysregulation, internalised homophobia and distress due to heterosexist experiences. Thematic analyses of qualitative feedback revealed several helpful and challenging aspects of participating in the DBT skills group (e.g., time commitment, online format, and relevance and applicability of treatment content).

Conclusions

The study found that an LGBT-affirmative DBT skills group is feasible and acceptable among Malaysian LGBT adults and shows promise in improving psychological health. These findings have implications for the adaptation of DBT skills training for marginalised populations in diverse, low-resource contexts.

查看原文本刊更多论文

马来西亚LGBT成人积极辩证行为治疗（DBT）技能培训的公开试验和混合方法评价

目的女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋和变性人（LGBT）相对于异性恋者存在更大的心理健康问题风险。虽然存在各种基于证据的干预措施来解决LGBT个人的心理健康需求，但迫切需要对这些干预措施进行调整，以解决全球南方LGBT个人特有的压力源，在那里，LGBT身份仍然受到高度歧视。本研究开发并评估了一个六期肯定辩证行为疗法（DBT）技能小组，以解决马来西亚LGBT成年人的抑郁症状。方法从社区招募了17名患有轻至重度抑郁症状的LGBT成年人（年龄26.9岁）。参与者参加了为期6周的DBT技能小组（2.5小时/次）。他们在干预前和干预后完成了心理症状、幸福感和少数民族压力的自我报告测量，并就他们在DBT技能组的经历进行了焦点小组讨论。结果干预前后抑郁症状、压力、边缘性人格障碍症状、情绪失调和异性恋经历引起的痛苦显著减少。自我同情和主观幸福感也显著增加。参加DBT技能课程的次数与情绪失调、内化同性恋恐惧症和异性恋经历造成的痛苦的减少显著相关。对定性反馈的专题分析揭示了参与DBT技能组的几个有益和具有挑战性的方面（例如，时间承诺、在线格式、治疗内容的相关性和适用性）。结论本研究发现，在马来西亚的LGBT成年人中，建立一个支持LGBT的DBT技能小组是可行和可接受的，并且在改善心理健康方面有希望。这些发现对在多样化、低资源环境下边缘化人群的DBT技能培训适应性具有启示意义。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Counselling & Psychotherapy Research PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

12.50%

发文量

期刊介绍： Counselling and Psychotherapy Research is an innovative international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to linking research with practice. Pluralist in orientation, the journal recognises the value of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods strategies of inquiry and aims to promote high-quality, ethical research that informs and develops counselling and psychotherapy practice. CPR is a journal of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, promoting reflexive research strongly linked to practice. The journal has its own website: www.cprjournal.com. The aim of this site is to further develop links between counselling and psychotherapy research and practice by offering accessible information about both the specific contents of each issue of CPR, as well as wider developments in counselling and psychotherapy research. The aims are to ensure that research remains relevant to practice, and for practice to continue to inform research development.