half day workshop

DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY FOR BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
Shireen Rizvi, New School for Social Research, New York, USA and Sarah Reynolds, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic/University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA

Princess Hotel Room: Forum

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), developed by Marsha M. Linehan, Ph.D. at the University of Washington, is a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral treatment for borderline personality disorder, especially for those with chronic patterns of life-threatening or other severe dysfunctional behaviors. Research has shown DBT to effectively reduce suicidal behavior, dropout from treatment, psychiatric hospitalization, anger, and interpersonal difficulties. DBT also has been adapted to treating substance-abusing individuals with BPD, and shown to be effective for this population. The following topics will be covered: 1) diagnostic issues and a dialectical biosocial theory of borderline personality disorder; 2) DBT treatment targets and structure of treatment for multi-problem, high-suicide risk clients; 3) basic strategies used in individual DBT; and 4) introduction to DBT psycho-educational group skills training.  Who the workshop is aimed at: Mental health professionals who work with complex, multi-diagnostic patients, or who conduct clinical research with this population, and who have little to moderate prior knowledge of DBT principles.

Shireen L. Rizvi, Ph.D. is assistant professor of psychology at the New School for Social Research in New York City. She earned her doctorate at the University of Washington where she was trained for five years by Dr. Linehan. Dr. Rizvi is a national and international DBT trainer. Her current areas of research include: developing empirically based treatments for severe psychopathology, including borderline personality disorder and suicidal behaviors and the emotion of shame and its relation to the development and maintenance of psychopathology.  Sarah Reynolds, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at University of Pittsburgh, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC). She was trained in DBT during a three-year postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Linehan. Dr. Reynolds has conducted numerous DBT workshops and system consultations, and has published on the topics of DBT, suicidality, and personality disorder. In her current position, she directs a DBT training practicum for psychiatry and psychology trainees, and conducts research on the interpersonal and emotional functioning of individuals with BPD.

Key References:
Linehan, M.M. (1993a). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. New York: Guilford Press. 
Linehan, M.M. (1993b). Skills training manual for treating borderline personality disorder. New York: Guilford Press.