College Students Who Self-Harm

University of Minnesota

Overview

Study Aims/Objectives: This projects' Primary Aim is development of a Condensed DBT Stepped Care Model tailored to the unique requirements of students meeting sub-clinical diagnostic criteria for BPD with its associated high rate of self-harm and suicide. The investigator previously implemented a 4-mth condensed-DBT regimen with success in an adult clinical population. This study will evaluate an intensive 8 week intervention formulated for students to reduce the high prevalence of self-harm and dysfunctional behavior in this population and reduce the need for extended treatment in later years. It will include rigorous screening for collateral disorders, including Substance Use Disorders exacerbating BPD symptoms and suicide risk.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Conditions

Borderline Personality Disorder Suicide

Interventions

Informational sessions describing BPD characteristicsBEHAVIORAL

Control intervention consists of informational sessions describing BPD characteristics/ treatment and time- / stress-management skills

Condensed-DBT treatment interventionBEHAVIORAL

The Intervention consists of an 8-week manual based psychoeducational group utilizing modified condensed-DBT Treatment manual previously used in a treatment study (Moen et al, 2012).

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 27 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 to 27 * Currently enrolled in college * Meet at least 4 of 9 Criteria of BPD (DSM-V) with one criterion being self-harm (e.g. cut, burn, or hit self) Exclusion Criteria: * have a current major psychiatric disorder diagnosis, or other gross cognitive impairment (as identified in the phone screen or the SCID I measure) or * have undergone DBT or * are suicidal and require full DBT and/or hospitalization or * are currently in any other individual or group therapy * unable to attend weekly visits over 8 weeks, starting March 24, 2014

Locations (1)

CTSI

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) behaviors

produce greater decreases in depression, anxiety, self-harm, and other BPD behaviors,

Time frame: 8-weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Change in reported psychiatric symptoms,

diminish reported psychiatric symptoms, and Decreased utilization of Emergency Room, crisis, and University Disability Services on campus.

Time frame: 8-weeks

Diminished emergency room visits

self reported ER visits

Time frame: 8 weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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