Mental Health in Education Sector: Efficacy of Group Dialectical Behaviour Therapy with Students Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder

This study aimed to empirically assess the efficacy of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) in substantially alleviating symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), reformulating distorted cognitive patterns, ameliorating dysfunctional interpersonal relationships, and augmenting overall life satisfaction in students with BPD. A quasi-experimental group was formed from 24 students at Islamia College Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A baseline assessment was conducted using a comprehensive set of tools, including the McLean screening instrument, the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, the Cognitive Distortion Questionnaire, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Twelve weekly group sessions were conducted over a period of three months, DBT techniques were applied during the sessions, and participants were given homework assignments to help transfer newly learned behaviours from therapeutic settings to real-life situations. After completing the twelve sessions, participants were reassessed using the same measures administered at the baseline. The results showed significance in symptoms of BPD and cognitive distortions, along with an increase in life satisfaction at the post-assessment compared to the pre-assessment. DBT has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing the severity of symptoms associated with BPD.