| Description |
Researchers have long focused on which variables play a role in managing the stress-illness relationship, and more specifically, emotion dysregulation (Linehan, 1993; McCrae, 1984). The current study examined psychologically dysregulated individuals (n=22), who had been recommended by their primary therapists, to participate in an 18 week outpatient DBT skills group. We were interested in determining whether participants' strategies for coping changed from maladaptive to adaptive over the course of group, specifically between pre-intervention waitlist (Initial Assessment) and after completing the first module of the skills group (Reassessment 2). The DBT Ways of Coping Checklist (DBT-WCCL, Neacsieu et al., 2010) was used as a way of determining change across time and a DBT Deficiencies measure was sent to participants' therapists every six weeks. Correlations between the DBT Deficiencies measure and DBT-WCCL Dysfunctional subscale revealed moderately significant findings, suggesting a possible relationship between therapists' predictive assessments of client deficiencies, and subsequent reports of their clients after a period of time. Analyses of the DBT-WCCL subscales suggested moderate improvement from Initial to Reassessment 2 with a 9.7% increase in reported DBT coping skill use, and a 7.6% decrease in dysfunctional coping skill use. Despite discouraging attrition rates, implications of the study include an added support for the DBT-WCCL in monitoring adaptive and maladaptive skill use in clinical populations. Finally, data demonstrated moderate changes in skill use after only six weeks of DBT skills group, which supports the efficacy of the DBT-WCCL measure, as well as the structure of the DBT group's structure as it pertains to positive changes in participants. |
