DBT Skills and Support Groups for Family Members/Affected Others in Relationships with Individuals Living with Borderline Personality Disorder

Problem. Relational distress between family members/affected others and individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) can negatively influence the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Researchindicatesthat when family members/affected otherssupportindividuals participating DBT skills-groupsby role-modeling skills, discussingDBT treatmentobjectives and skills, and offeringencouragement, individuals with BPD are more likely to overcome barriers to treatment during DBT skills training.Methods.ADBTskillsand supportgroup curriculum for family members/affected others was developedtoimproveparticipants'perceivedrelationshipqualitywith the individual living with BPD. DBT skills and support groups for family members/affected others were conducted with two separate groups of participants with each group meeting twice. Group sessionstook place at a suburban mental health clinic inUtah. Fifteen adults in a relationshipwith someone currently diagnosedwithand in treatment for BPDparticipated in the intervention. Relational SCORE-15 (R-SCORE-15) questionnaires were administered beforeand afterthe intervention. Responses were analyzed for change in participants' perceived relationship quality.Results. Ten of 15 participants(67%)attended and participated in the pre-and post-intervention project group sessions and completed both the pre-and post-R-SCORE-15 questionnaires. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare pre-and post-R-SCORE-15 total scores (p = .878), participant perception of severity (p = .137), ability to manage (p = .206), helpfulness oftherapy (p = .058), strengths and adaptability (p = .719), being overwhelmed by difficulties (p = .721), and disrupted communication (p = .719). The changes in these domains were not statistically significant. Conclusions. Small group size, lack of cultural diversity, groups beingofferedduringthe holidayseason,and only being able to hold twosessionsover two monthsfor eachof the two separate groupsof participants were factors whichmay have led tothe lack of significant findings. More group sessions and a longer time period over which to implement and evaluate the effects of the DBT skills/support may have led tostatistically significant results. Further study of DBT skills and support interventions should be conducted.