Modified Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Treating Anxiety and Depression

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a modified Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) intervention for the transdiagnostic treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders. Conducted over three years, the study will involve a randomized controlled design with two parallel groups at two medical centers in Taiwan. Participants will receive 12 weekly individual therapy sessions, and their clinical outcomes will be assessed before, after, and three months post-intervention. The goal is to determine whether this modified DBT approach can improve the severity of emotional disorders and enhance overall quality of life.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Mandarin Chinese-language proficiency sufficient to complete the study questionnaire
2. A current diagnosis of depressive or anxiety disorder as diagnosed from a SCAN interview

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Intellectual disability
2. Substance use disorder in the past three months
3. Bipolar disorder
4. Psychotic disorder
5. Organic brain disorder
6. Acute suicidality or a history of frequent or recent suicide attempts
7. Recent (past six weeks) change in psychiatric medication or unwillingness to maintain a stable dosage of medication during study participation
8. Had received five or more sessions of CBT in the past five years or was unwilling to stop concurrent psychotherapy for an emotional disorder
9. Any mental or physical condition requiring hospital admission
10. Another medical condition likely to prevent participation in the study

As we also aim for a naturalistic setting, we do not exclude patients who undergo a medication change during the trial if this is judged necessary or clinically important by the treating clinician. Instead, we include a question about this in the questionnaire to the referring/treating clinician.

Where it's running

• MacKay Memorial Hospital
  Taipei, Taiwan Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Shen-Ing Liu, Ph.D — Mackay Memorial Hospital
• Study coordinator: Hui-Chun Huang, Ph.D
• Email: aihch@mmh.org.tw
• Phone: 886-2-28094661

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.