Nasim Baharan, Navid Shirmardi, Fazileh Alboshokeh, Fateme Masoudizade

Abstract

Introduction: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one of the complex problems related to the mental health field, which is recognized having features such as extreme negative emotions, identity disorders, and impulsive and unstable behaviors in interpersonal relationships. Various therapeutic actions have been used considering the etiology of this disorder and among these therapies, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) proposed by Marsha Linehan (1993) have led to frequent improvements. This therapy is among cognitive-behavioral therapies aiming at emotional and impulsive instabilities. This study was conducted to investigate the dialectical behavior therapy on the public health of individuals having personality disorders. Methodology: This quasi-experimental study had a pre-test, post-test, and control group design. Statistical population of the study included patients having personality disorder in Andimeshk city of Khuzestan province during 2019; among which, 38 patients were selected using convenient sampling method who were randomly replaced in two equal groups. Experimental groups were trained through DBT separately for 8 sessions, each lasting for 90 minutes and the control group was on the waiting list. Research instruments included public health questionnaire as well as Millon`s personality disorder questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 21, software, and multivariate covariance analysis method. Findings: The findings of the study indicated that DBT significantly improved the public health of individuals having personality disorders. Conclusion: The results indicated the importance of DBT in improving the public health of individuals having personality disorders.