A Meta-Analysis of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Across Variable Populations and Settings

Marsha Linehan developed Dialectical Behavior Theory (DBT) for the treatment of borderline personality disorder in 1991. Because of DBT’s success, the treatment has spread to other populations and disorders. Due to the poor ratio of theoretical to empirical research on DBT, data is limited on the effectiveness of such a treatment. A meta-analysis across populations and settings was conducted utilizing much of the empirical data available to date. Based on the accumulated research, the meta-analysis resulted in a significant effect thereby furthering the empirical basis of DBT. Both a weighted and unweighted t-test were performed to establish DBT’s effectiveness in the accumulated research, as well as DBT’s effectiveness in general