What disorders and problems can dialectical behavior therapy help with?

Research has shown that DBT helps with a wide range of mental health problems, notably those involving emotional dysregulation, self-destructive behaviors, and interpersonal difficulties.

1. Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

• • DBT is considered the gold standard for BPD treatment.
  • It lowers self-harm, suicidal behavior, emotional instability, and relationship chaos.

2. Depression

• • Very helpful for chronic, treatment-resistant, or emotionally intense
  • Assists with hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, and emotional numbness.

3. Anxiety disorders

• • Including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, and panic disorder.
  • DBT teaches distress tolerance and emotion regulation, both crucial for managing anxiety.

4. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
   
   

• • Especially for complex PTSD (C-PTSD) linked to ongoing emotional dysregulation.
  • DBT aids in regulating intense emotions and building coping skills before trauma processing.

5. Eating disorders
   

• • Mostly binge-eating disorder and bulimia nervosa.
  • DBT eases bingeing and purging behaviors by targeting emotional eating patterns.

6. Substance use disorders

• • DBT for substance abuse (DBT-SUD) integrates addiction-specific strategies with standard DBT.
  • Makes it easier to stay sober by managing cravings, triggers, and emotional pain without using substances.

7. Self-harm and suicidal behavior
   
   

• • Even without a full BPD diagnosis, DBT is highly effective at reducing non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempts.

8. Bipolar disorder

• • While DBT isn’t a primary treatment, it’s used as an adjunct to help people manage emotional swings, impulsiveness, and relationship issues.

9. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults

• • DBT has been adapted to help adults with ADHD improve emotional regulation, time management, and impulsivity.

10. Problems related to emotional dysregulation

Even outside formal diagnoses, DBT is useful for:

• • Anger issues.
  • Chronic feelings of emptiness.
  • Interpersonal chaos.
  • Difficulty tolerating distress.
  • Impulsivity and risky behavior.

The main structure (skills training, individual therapy, phone coaching, and therapist consultation) usually stays the same, but the attention and abilities emphasized might shift.

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