Spotlight Research 3 - Enhancing Community Mental Health Through the Utilization of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy in an Intensive Outpatient Setting

The primary goals of this research spotlight are to discuss implementing adherent Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in Partial Hospital (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) settings. PHP/IOP programs are used both as step down services after inpatient stays and as an opportunity for preventative maintenance to avert hospitalization.. Given the nature of the clinical population that is generally seen in PHP and IOP programs, there has been increasing interest in using DBT in these programs. Moreover, there is increasing empirical evidence that DBT improves outcomes in PHP and IOP settings.
The presenters of this research spotlight will discuss evidence of successful implementation of DBT in adherent PHP/IOP programs. Data from multiple years of collection will be discussed. Data from years prior to the COIVD pandemic (N = 145), during the COVID pandemic (2020-2021) when these programs modified to a hybrid and/or face to face option (N =148) and data from 2023 (N = 86) will be discussed.
Results from a 5-year study of DBT in a partial hospital program showed symptom reduction from intake to discharge for depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and suffering. Findings from a hybrid PH/IOP program during COVID (2020-2021) will be discussed where not only did the same clinical symptoms show significant reductions, but PTSD symptoms (PCL) also showed significant reductions on all sub-scales. Lastly, data from the program in 2023 will be discussed where both clinical symptoms and PCL scores significantly decreased.
Results on these programs on mindfulness will be discussed as well. Outcomes prior to COIVD showed significant increases in mindfulness total scores from intake to discharge. Results during the pandemic showed significant increases in mindfulness scores and data from 2023 also showed significant increases in mindfulness scores.