Dialectical behavioral therapy-based skills training program for family members of suicide attempters: a randomized controlled trial

Background

Family members of individuals who have attempted suicide may experience feelings of guilt, depression, hopelessness, and burnout. Previous studies suggest that Psychoeducational Interventions (PI) for caregivers of people with suicide attempts improve their feelings of caregiver burden and that Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) helps to reduce caregivers’ burden, depression, and validating behaviors. However, no studies have analyzed whether DBT is more effective than PI for caregivers of people who have made suicide attempts.

Methods

The aim of the study was to analyze the differential efficacy of the DBT vs. PI. The study was a superiority trial with a two-arm randomized controlled design. The intention-to-treat principle was employed using mixed-effects models. In all, 108 caregivers of patients diagnosed with Suicide Behavior Disorder were randomized.

Results

DBT was equally effective as PI in alleviating caregivers’ burden. DBT was more effective than PI in increasing caregivers´ family empowerment and validation behaviors and reducing stress.

Conclusions

This study suggests that DBT could be an effective intervention for caregivers of people with suicide attempts.

Trial registration

The study was registered on December 15, 2021 in https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ ID: NCT05157607.