Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment, belonging to the ‘third wave’ of cognitive-behavioral therapies. It is a multimodal treatment, initially designed by Marsha M. Linehan for subjects with severe borderline personality disorder, whose characteristics have been conceptualized in a biosocial developmental model. The dialectic between acceptance and change informs all treatment, which is conducted by a therapeutic team. Over time, adaptations of DBT to various psychopathological and nonpsychopathological situations have appeared. Currently, DBT is widespread throughout the world, thanks also to the formalization of implementation and training procedures.