MEDI6295 - DBT Effectiveness: Reducing Self-Harm in BPD Clients

This assignment delves into Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), an evidence-based therapy derived from cognitive behavioral therapy, focusing on emotional regulation and grounded in biosocial theory. It highlights the core elements of DBT, including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, the middle path, and interpersonal effectiveness. The assignment addresses how DBT targets deliberate self-harm (DSH) behaviors by reducing stress and fostering a better understanding of one's actions through mindfulness and emotional regulation. It further evaluates DBT's effectiveness in reducing self-harm among clients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), referencing studies that demonstrate its utility in teaching coping skills and analyzing consequences. The assignment also touches upon the importance of community nursing in promoting DBT awareness and preventing abusive incidents, emphasizing a coherent, interdisciplinary approach to mental health care. Desklib provides access to similar solved assignments and resources for students.

Running head: QUESTION AND ANSWER
Question and Answer
Name of the student
Name of the university
Authors note

QUESTION AND ANSWER
A. Describe the core elements (including the biosocial model) of Dialectical
Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
DBT involves an evidence-based therapy that is a modified version of cognitive
behavioural therapy. It involves techniques related to emotional regulation and it is based
upon the biosocial theory. The four important elements that is included in this therapy are
individual, group, therapist consultation team, and phone coaching. However the core
components of DBT are as follows: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, the
middle path (imbibed from Zen Buddha), and interpersonal effectiveness.[4]
B. What aspects of DBT (if any) are designed to address deliberate self-harm
behaviours?
Self-harm behaviours occurs when an individual is engaged in a behaviour that
involves activities like skin picking or hair pulling and so on. These kind of symptoms
underlie the issue of abuse or mental trauma. This kind of behaviour also signifies that there
is lack of emotional stability and cognitive stability. DBT can be useful because it helps in
reducing the stress of the person who is engaged in the business of self-harming oneself. In
this therapy, the individual will be introduced to the worldview so that he or she gain a better
understanding of the activities that one is engaged to. . DBT can also be used for partial
hospitalization or home-based interpersonal therapy and it is also observed that DBT has
been very effective in reducing DSH [2]. This is because this therapy works through
mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, the middle path (imbibed from Zen
Buddha), and interpersonal effectiveness [4]. The mindfulness affects the way in which the
emotional experience of the person is effectively analysed.

QUESTION AND ANSWER
C. To what extent has DBT been shown to be effective in reducing deliberate
self-harm amongst clients with Borderline Personality Disorder? (Comment on any
peer-reviewed research that is planned or currently in progress).
Borderline Personality disorder is the strongest correlates of self-harm. Studies
conducted under Child Adolesc Social work showed that DBT is very useful to treat the
borderline disorder [1]. This is because under this theory the individual is engaged in learning
new life skills so that he or she will able to analyse the consequences of their action. DBT can
also be used for partial hospitalization or home-based interpersonal therapy and it is observed
that DBT has been very effective in reducing DSH. Due to the stigmatised status of the
psychiatric hospitals, it is important to create coherent, interdisciplinary and team-oriented
approach [3]. This kind viewpoint will help to shape the clinical practice and create workable
solution in local situation.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy essentially refers to the therapeutic assistance to the
mentioned four areas and community nursing can be the tool to address that. Since many
people fail to recognise that they are suffering from DBT, the community nursing can help to
promote awareness regarding the DBT and work towards spreading knowledge of the same
so that people can evaluate their behaviour and improve themselves. Further, certain nursing
programmes can also work towards prevention of abusive incidents and keep environment
healthy.

QUESTION AND ANSWER
References
1. Freeman KR, James S, Klein KP, Mayo D, Montgomery S. Outpatient dialectical
behavior therapy for adolescents engaged in deliberate self-harm: conceptual and
methodological considerations. Child and adolescent social work journal. 2016 Apr
1;33(2):123-35.
2. Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Clinical Practice
Guidelines Team for Deliberate Self-harm. Australian and New Zealand clinical
practice guidelines for the management of adult deliberate self-harm. Australian and
New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2004 Jan 1;38(11-12):868-84.
3. Procter NG. Emergency mental health nursing for self‐harming refugees and asylum
seekers. International journal of mental health nursing. 2005 Sep;14(3):196-201.
4. Wallace LM, Masson PC, Safer DL, von Ranson KM. DBT Treatment Research.