Dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents with self-harm and suicidal behavior
Official title: Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents With Self-harm and Suicidal Behavior- an Open
Run by Haukeland University Hospital · NCT06315075 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 13 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 140 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Haukeland University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Bergen, Bergen) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 15, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | August 31, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06315075 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
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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
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.