Terapia Dialéctica Conductual: aplicaciones clínicas y evidencia empírica

Abstract

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a treatment developed for patients with borderline personality disorder diagnosis (BPD). DBT combines behavior therapy with reality acceptance principles derived from Zen and dialectical philosophy. DBT is a multi-modal treatment with 4 components: individual therapy, skills training, phone consultation and consultation team for therapists. Today, there are several randomized controlled clinical trials proving enough evidence as to consider that DBT is an empirically based treatment for BPD. DBT has also been adapted for the treatment of other clinical populations characterized by emotional dysregulation. The skills training component of the therapy has begin to be used as a standalone treatmentent and evidence in regard to its efficacy is still growing. In this article we resume the principles and structure of DBT and review its clinical applications and empirical data.