Dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents with self-harm and suicidal behavior
Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents With Self-harm and Suicidal Behavior- an Open
This study is testing if Dialectical Behavior Therapy can help teenagers aged 13-18 who self-harm and have suicidal thoughts feel better and reduce their harmful behaviors over 20 weeks.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 140 (estimated) |
| Ages | 13 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Haukeland University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Bergen, Bergen) |
| Trial ID | NCT06315075 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study examines the effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) over a 20-week period for adolescents aged 13-18 who engage in self-harm and exhibit suicidal behavior. It aims to evaluate treatment outcomes in terms of self-harm episodes, suicide attempts, depressive symptoms, and quality of life, both immediately after treatment and at follow-up intervals of three months and one year. The study also seeks to identify pre-treatment factors that may predict treatment success, all conducted within the context of routine clinical practice at Haukeland University Hospital in Norway.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents aged 13-18 with a history of self-harm or current suicidal behavior, and who meet specific diagnostic criteria for borderline personality disorder.
Not a fit: Patients with intellectual disabilities, significant learning impairments, autism spectrum disorder, anorexia nervosa, psychotic disorders, or substance abuse disorders may not benefit from this treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly reduce self-harm and suicidal behavior in adolescents, improving their overall mental health and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that DBT-A is effective in reducing self-harm and suicidal ideation in adolescents, suggesting that this approach has a solid foundation of evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 13-18 years * Ongoing or a history of self-harm the last six months; current suicidal behavior (suicidal thoughts or at least one suicide attempt within the previous six months); at least three criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual -5 (DSM-5) Borderline personality disorder (BPD), or the self-destruction criterion of DSM-5 BPD in addition to minimum two subthreshold criteria as assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Personality Disorders (SCID-5-PD) (First et al., 2016) * Fluency in Norwegian * One parent/trusted adult that can participate together with the adolescent. Exclusion Criteria: * Intellectual disability * Significant learning or language impairments * Autism spectrum disorder * Anorexia Nervosa * Any psychotic disorder * Substance abuse disorder. These patients will be offered treatment as usual at their local outpatient clinic.
Where this trial is running
Bergen, Bergen
- Dept. of child and adolescent psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital — Bergen, Bergen, Norway (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Gro Janne H. Wergeland, MD, PhD — Haukeland University Hospital
- Study coordinator: Gro Janne H. Wergeland, MD, PhD
- Email: gneh@helse-bergen.no
- Phone: +47 48176828
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.