A dialectical behavior therapy perspective on the case of Anna

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT; Linehan, 1993a, 1993b) is a cognitive-behavioral treatment designed specifically for individuals with 'borderline behaviors, 'particularly self-injurious and suicidal behaviors. In fact, currently it is the only psychosocial treatment for this population with published efficacy data from a randomized trial (Linehan, Armstrong, Suarez, Allmon, and Heard, 1991; Linehan, Heard, and Armstrong, 1993; Linehan, Tutek, Heard, and Armstrong, 1994). My colleagues and I recently also reported superior outcomes across many areas of functioning for DBT compared to treatment as usual for borderline women veterans (Koons, Robins, Bishop, Morse, and Lynch, 1998), demonstrating the transportability of this treatment. I appreciate this opportunity to present a DBT perspective on the case of Anna and look forward to the responses of others with somewhat different perspectives. My assumption is that all cognitive-behavioral perspectives have more commonalities than differences; therefore, I will attempt to highlight the ways in which DBT may be different.

Duke Scholars

Author Clive Justin Robins Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Adult Psychiatry & Psychol ...