Effectiveness of 13-week dialectical behavior therapy skills training for non-suicidal self-injury: a multi-center randomized clinical trial in China

Clinical Snapshot

Key Findings

• P Value: Significance reported but specific p-values not provided

• Effect Size: Not reported in abstract

• Primary Outcome: DBT-ST significantly more effective than SSGT in reducing frequency of NSSI behaviors

• Nnt Or Sensitivity: Not calculable from available data

• Confidence Interval: Not reported in abstract

Clinical Application

13-week structured group intervention appears feasible in clinical settings, though requires trained DBT therapists Relevant to Australian mental health services; DBT skills training aligns with RANZCP guidelines for personality disorders and self-harm. May be suitable for Medicare-funded psychological services under Better Access initiative Individuals with mental disorders and non-suicidal self-injury in clinical settings, particularly relevant for adolescent and young adult populations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Dialectical behavior therapy skills training (DBT-ST) has received empirical evidence for treating non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, its effectiveness in Chinese contexts remains understudied. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of DBT-ST for NSSI in a clinical sample of individuals with NSSI. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, randomized clinical trial in China to evaluate the effectiveness of a 13-week DBT-ST compared with social support group therapy (SSGT). A total of 196 individuals with mental disorders and NSSI were recruited. The primary outcome was the frequency of NSSI thoughts and behaviors, assessed using the Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory. RESULTS: Participants were randomized to the DBT-ST group (n = 97) or the SSGT group (n = 99). DBT-ST was significantly more effective than SSGT in reducing the frequency of NSSI behaviors. It also showed superior effects on borderline symptoms and multiple domains of psychological functioning, including emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, alexithymia, mindfulness, psychological resilience, and emotional intelligence. Both groups exhibited significant reductions in the frequency of NSSI thoughts, suicidal ideation and attempts, and depression, with no significant between-group differences in these outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that the 13-week DBT-ST intervention is an effective treatment for Chinese patients with NSSI in clinical settings.

References

1. 1.Ni, F., Wu, S., Liang, M., Liu, C., Zhang, P., Zhang, D., Rodriguez, M., Glasenapp, J., Yin, C., Long, J., Liu, Y., Sun, Y., Wu, X., Liu, G., Jiang, X., Wang, X., Lv, H., Zhang, Z., Wang, S., Rosenthal, Z., & Wang, C. (2026). Effectiveness of 13-week dialectical behavior therapy skills training for non-suicidal self-injury: a multi-center randomized clinical trial in China. Psychological Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291726104553