Clinical Research Directory

The intervention lasts 13 weeks and includes the following components: 1) Introductory Group for Orientation and Distress Tolerance DBT skills (2 hours per week during the first 4 weeks), Since week 2, weekly DBT skills-training group (2.5 hours; 12 weeks), 3) Weekly "check-in" phone calls throughout the 13 weeks, 4) Phone coaching for emergencies during business hours, 5) Weekly consultation team meeting (60.90 minutes)

The intervention begins with a "pretreatment" phase consisting of three to four preparatory individual psychotherapy sessions in which the therapeutic goals are defined, commitment is established, and the patient is oriented to the rules and procedures of therapy. Pretreatment is followed by standard Dialectical Behavior Therapy over 24 weeks, comprising: 1) a weekly DBT skills-training group (2.5 hrs.); 2) weekly individual DBT psychotherapy (45 min.); 3) Access to phone coaching during business hours (although standard DBT considers 24/7 access, this study arm involves only office-hour access plus orientation to using National Hotline); 4) weekly consultation team meeting (60 min.).

It corresponds to the standard treatment currently provided at any community mental health center in Chile, which consists of monthly or fortnightly individual standard psychotherapy sessions.