Evaluation of a dialectical behavior therapy-informed partial hospital program: outcome data and exploratory analyses

Submitted: June 19, 2016
Accepted: October 5, 2016
Published: November 7, 2016
Abstract Views: 1649
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The use of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) among a variety of programs and patients has recently exploded. Of particular interest is the use of DBT in partial hospital (PH) programs due to the high number of severely ill and suicidal patients who participate in these programs. Recently, Lothes, Mochrie and St. John (2014) examined data from a local DBT-informed PH program and found significant reductions in depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and degree of suffering from intake to discharge. The present study examined these same four symptom constructs by assessing intake and discharge data for additional individuals enrolled in this DBT-informed PH program. In addition, lengths of stay and acuity ratings were analyzed to explore the relationship between these variables and symptom constructs. Significant symptom reduction in depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and degree of suffering from intake to discharge was found among high and medium acuity patients, replicating the results of Lothes et al. (2014). Further, individuals with the highest acuity saw the largest reduction in hopelessness symptoms the longer they participated in the program (i.e., a significant interaction effect between acuity and length of stay). This is meaningful given the connection between hopelessness and suicidal ideation/action, which is of particular concern for those charged with treating clinical populations. DBT-informed PH programs may be a cost-effective and useful way to treat high-risk patients who come from inpatient facilities. Future studies may wish to create follow-up periods (i.e., 3 months, 6 months) post-discharge to assess if symptom reduction remains.

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Supporting Agencies

John E. Lothes II1, Kirk D. Mochrie2, Emalee J. W. Quickel3, & Jane St. John4 1University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2East Carolina University, 3Loyola University Maryland & 4Delta Behavioral Health
John E. Lothes II, Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC
John Lothes is an adjunct faculty in the Psychology Department and the Health and Applied Human Science Department at the Universtity of North Carolina Wilmington. John also helps run an outpatient partial hospotal, mental health intensive outpatient hospital and substance abuse intensive outpatient partial hospital program. John also has a private practice where he does individual therapy.

How to Cite

Lothes II, J. E., Mochrie, K. D., Quickel, E. J., & St. John, J. (2016). Evaluation of a dialectical behavior therapy-informed partial hospital program: outcome data and exploratory analyses. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 19(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2016.219

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