A pre-experimental evaluation of treatment gains associated with a DBT-A partial hospitalization program

Abstract

This pre-experimental evaluation of a dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) partial hospital program (PHP) explored intervention effects, proportions of clinical significance, and the degree that participant characteristics and DBT-A treatment components predicted variance in outcomes. Participants were 74 adolescents who were receiving treatment for internalizing disorders (n = 62) and externalizing disorders (n = 12). All participants completed a 6-week DBT-A application. Data analyses indicated a statistically significant improvement in global symptoms indicative of treatment effects within the large to medium range. About half (n = 38, 51%) of the participants reported clinically significant treatment gains with another 23% signaling symptom reductions that represented improvement but were not clinically significant. Predictive analyses indicated equivalence of PHP response across age, gender, and ethnicity with the greatest proportions of variance among treatment gains accounted for by improvements in DBT-A doing skills (emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness). Implications for DBT-A practice are provided.