Dialectical behaviour therapy observed

Abstract

A forensic service in Pueblo, Colorado, USA has successfully introduced a dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) model of cognitive behavioural therapy which has been an integral part of the therapeutic programme since the mid‐1990s. The introduction of DBT to a forensic patient population has resulted in improvement of service user involvement with therapy, a possible solution to addressing staff burn‐out and a potential mode of treatment to encompass a range of diagnostic categories.DBT is a psychological intervention to help change an individual's distorted cognitions and assist the development of coping strategies. The emphasis of DBT in this instance is upon treating life‐threatening behaviour exhibited by patients in a forensic setting. A quasi‐experimental study comparing DBT with treatment as usual, conducted over a 20‐month period, helped this service to validate the therapy as an appropriate form of treatment for this patient population.

Citation

Wix, S. (2003), "Dialectical behaviour therapy observed", The British Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 3-7. https://doi.org/10.1108/14636646200300008