Effectiveness of individual dialectical behavior therapy skills training on major depression

All over the world، depression is a serious and debilitating public health problem with high prevalence. Medications significantly reduce the depressive symptoms and mortality. However، psychosocial interventions increase efficacy of medication. This study aimed to study the effects of dialectical behavior therapy skills on depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in depressed patients. Our study design was a quasi-experimental and participants were selected based on volunteer sampling. 18 depressed inpatients were assigned in experimental (n=9) and wait-list control (n=9) groups. Patients were assessed by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Reasons for Living (RFL) Scale before and after training. Dialectical behavior therapy skills training were performed individual weekly format and lasted for over 6 month and 20 sessions. Results of ANCOVA showed that skills training were effective in reducing depressive symptoms. Experimental group had a statistical significance in depression (P=0. 001) and suicidal ideation (P=0. 008) scores. Augmentation of medication with dialectical behavior therapy improves effectiveness of treatment of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Experimental group was superior to control group in reducing symptoms. These skills can be used for the depressed inpatients.