The impact of dialectical behaviour therapy training on therapists in Singapore: A mixed-methods study

Tan, Michelle Yan Ling, Saw, Young Ern, Keng, Shian Ling, and Lim, Denise Su Hui (2023) The impact of dialectical behaviour therapy training on therapists in Singapore: A mixed-methods study. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 23 (3). pp. 672-689.

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Abstract

Background: While dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) has much empirical support for treating borderline personality disorder (BPD) and other conditions, little research has examined the dissemination of DBT in Southeast Asia.

Aims: This study evaluated training outcomes following a 5-day intensive DBT training programme in a group of psychologists in Singapore, who were in the process of implementing DBT as part of the training's objectives.

Methodology: A mixed-methods design was employed. Fourteen psychologists from a public psychiatric hospital in Singapore were recruited. Seven self-selected into DBT training, and the remaining were matched controls who were not attending the training programme. The latter served as a nonrandomised control group. Prior to and 3 months after training, all participants completed measures of stigma towards BPD patients, burnout and therapeutic alliance. DBT training participants additionally attended a focus group discussion assessing their experiences and challenges implementing DBT in Singapore's context.

Findings: Quantitative analyses using mixed ANOVA showed that, compared with controls, DBT-trained participants demonstrated significantly greater increases in acceptance towards BPD patients. No between-group differences were found on changes in burnout or therapy alliance with patients. Analyses of qualitative data using thematic analysis revealed that DBT training impacted the way participants conceptualised and delivered therapy for BPD patients, and highlighted several challenges in implementing DBT in the local hospital context.

Conclusion: The findings demonstrate the potential of DBT training in improving clinicians' attitudes towards BPD patients and support a need for policymakers to prepare organisations for DBT implementation to ensure programme sustainability.

Item ID: 78611
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1746-1405
Keywords: burnout, cross-cultural, dialectical behaviour therapy, mixed methods, therapeutic relationship, training
Copyright Information: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made. © 2023 The Authors. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Date Deposited: 26 Oct 2023 02:10
FoR Codes: 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified @ 80%
39 EDUCATION > 3901 Curriculum and pedagogy > 390110 Medicine, nursing and health curriculum and pedagogy @ 20%
SEO Codes: 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280121 Expanding knowledge in psychology @ 100%
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